Kidderminster Historical Society - formerly KDAHS

06/10/2026

On Thursday 22nd October, 2026, John Hodges will give a talk entitled 'The History of Stanbrook Abbey, Callow End, Worcester - Originally for Benedictine Nuns'.

Our talks are held at the Museum of Carpet, Green St, Kidderminster, DY10 1AZ, and start at 2.30pm. Members are free; a small charge applies for non-members. Everyone is very welcome indeed. Please book a place by messaging this page or emailing via the website.

Stanbrook Abbey was originally built as a contemplative house for Benedictine nuns. The original monastic order who came to Stanbrook, was founded in 1625 in Cambrai, Flanders, which was at this time part of the Spanish Netherlands, under the auspices of the English Benedictine Congregation. The existing Stanbrook Hall was adapted and extended to form the new monastery by Charles Day in 1838. It is of national significance as part of the architectural history of the Roman Catholic Revival, and the development of institutional buildings in the 19th century. The abbey church was designed by E W Pugin (son of A W N Pugin) in the late 1860s; he and his siblings Peter Paul and Cuthbert Welby Pugin extended the site further designing many Abbey buildings in addition to those dating from 1838. The English Benedictine Congregation has relocated to Wass in the North York Moors National Park and Stanbrook Abbey is now a hotel.

John Hodges was brought up on his father's arable and stock farm in Shropshire and educated at Bedstone College, near Ludlow in the Welsh Marches. He became a teacher and worked in many schools of many different types in Shropshire and Worcestershire as well as spending time in Saudi Arabia and Cyprus. He has researched and written books about numerous historic houses in the U.K.

06/10/2026

Just two days to go until our next talk! Thursday 8th October, at 2.30pm, at the Museum of Carpet... 👇

22/09/2026

Tomorrow (Thursday)! 👇

Our Autumn programme starts shortly! KHS Historical Society's new season of talks runs from September 2026 to March 2027.

**Talks are held at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, Kidderminster at 2.30pm. All are very welcome.**

The first talk is on Thursday 24th September when Mark Jackson will give a talk entitled 'For a Worthy Purpose' - the story of 7th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment.

The 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment was regarded by many as Kidderminster's battalion. In his talk Mark Jackson will look back at the history of Britain's citizen soldiers over the centuries based very much around the area from which they were recruited and their role in defence of the UK homeland. It was only during the Boer War that they were first deployed overseas. He will explain the evolution and creation of the Territorial Army, and the 7th Battalion's own history as it fought in both the First and Second World Wars in Europe and the Far East. Today it continues to exist as part of the Reservist 4th Battalion of The Mercian Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jackson OBE is Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire). He had two Great Uncles from Kidderminster, Leonard and Lionel Humphries, who served in the Worcesters in World War I. His father, Anthony Jackson, who was also born in Kidderminster, served in the Worcesters in World War II and in Malaya. It is therefore hardly surprising that Mark followed their example, serving a full career in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment before becoming the CEO of St Richard's Hospice, Worcester. He is President of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association in Worcester and was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 2020.

KHS meetings start at 2.30 pm and are held at The Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors, who are very welcome - please book to ensure a seat. Simply message the page here or send an email via the website: https://kdahs.org/contact/

18/09/2026

There is just under a week to go until our talk by Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jackson OBE on the story of 7th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment - see previous post for details. However, here is advanced notice of the talk which follows it a couple of weeks later:

On Thursday 8th October, 2026, Alan Godfrey will give a talk entitled 'Parcels and Newspapers by Bus'.

Alan will examine the development of the express delivery service offered by the Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Company, known as the Midland 'Red'. This aspect of the bus service has been largely overlooked, but formed an important part of the business from 1915 until it ceased in 1980. Letters, parcels and bundles of newspapers were carried by bus and delivered across the midlands, using the network of over 500 parcels agents, which could found on most Midland Red bus routes. Stamps were issued to show payment of the carriage cost and were usually cancelled to prevent re-use. Large customers could charge deliveries to an account; door to door collection / delivery, and 'cash-on-delivery' were also available. This was a business where speed was everything and same day delivery usually expected.

Alan is a retired accountant, and spent most of his working life in the aerospace and automotive industries. However, one of his passions is history: he is a member of the Omnibus Society, a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London and president of the Midland (GB) Postal History Society, as well as Chairman of Alcester & District Local History Society.

KHS meetings start at 2.30 pm and are held at The Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors who are very welcome - please book to ensure a seat: simply message us here or email via the website.

10/09/2026

Our Autumn programme starts shortly! KHS Historical Society's new season of talks runs from September 2026 to March 2027.

**Talks are held at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, Kidderminster at 2.30pm. All are very welcome.**

The first talk is on Thursday 24th September when Mark Jackson will give a talk entitled 'For a Worthy Purpose' - the story of 7th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment.

The 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment was regarded by many as Kidderminster's battalion. In his talk Mark Jackson will look back at the history of Britain's citizen soldiers over the centuries based very much around the area from which they were recruited and their role in defence of the UK homeland. It was only during the Boer War that they were first deployed overseas. He will explain the evolution and creation of the Territorial Army, and the 7th Battalion's own history as it fought in both the First and Second World Wars in Europe and the Far East. Today it continues to exist as part of the Reservist 4th Battalion of The Mercian Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jackson OBE is Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire). He had two Great Uncles from Kidderminster, Leonard and Lionel Humphries, who served in the Worcesters in World War I. His father, Anthony Jackson, who was also born in Kidderminster, served in the Worcesters in World War II and in Malaya. It is therefore hardly surprising that Mark followed their example, serving a full career in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment before becoming the CEO of St Richard's Hospice, Worcester. He is President of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association in Worcester and was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 2020.

KHS meetings start at 2.30 pm and are held at The Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors, who are very welcome - please book to ensure a seat. Simply message the page here or send an email via the website: https://kdahs.org/contact/

13/02/2026

On Thursday 26th February, 2026, David Struckett will give a talk entitled 'Before Stourport There Was......'.

The talk will follow our AGM, which is fairly short and to which all are welcome.

David Struckett moved to Stourport in 2025 after a life-time interest in the River Severn, and has been involved in boating and historical activities of all sorts, both here and elsewhere. As a retired engineer and lecturer he has an interest to understand the workings of both the natural landscape in which we work and trade, and the remarkable achievements of our ancestors to create transport systems within it.

The foundation of Stourport as a town came about only because of the immediate success of Brindley's canal and basins here on existing trade routes - which connect the trades of Birmingham, the Black Country and surroundings to the west of our country - from Shrewsbury down to Gloucester and the estuary.

It is therefore interesting to view what was here before - and the river trade which had existed for centuries on what was called 'The King's High Way' to the sea.

Meetings start at 2.30 pm and are still held in the Museum of Carpet Building, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors who are very welcome - please message this page to ensure a seat.

02/02/2026

The subject of our next talk is Worcester's very own saint, St Wulfstan. Wulfstan served as Bishop of Worcester between 1062 to 1095 - and so he was Bishop in 1066, when the Norman Conquest took place. What changes he must have seen!

On Thursday 12th February, 2026, Sally Dickson will speak on 'Itchington, Family and Danes: the influences on the young St Wulfstan (c.1008 - 1095)'.

St Wulfstan was born at Itchington in Warwickshire during a turbulent period of Danish raiding and weak Anglo-Saxon kingship. This talk looks at how the previous history of the Itchington locality, the experiences of his family, the powerful preaching of his uncle, and the local Danish presence, all affected the future Bishop of Worcester during his formative years.

Sally is a local historian and current Chairman of the Kidderminster Historical Society. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham, taught a history of science course for the Open University and has undertaken a number of research projects. She gives talks to local societies on historical subjects ranging in date from Anglo-Saxon to twentieth century.

This talk arises from her current research on the people recorded in the Worcestershire pages of the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, which she intends, eventually, to publish as a book.

KHS meetings start at 2.30 pm and are still held in The Old Museum of Carpet Building, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors who are very welcome - please message the page to ensure a seat.

Photo credits: Sally Dickson (author's own); Joseph Martin Kronheim (1810-1896) 'Writing the Domesday Book' (Wikimedia Commons); Stained Glass at the Church of Holy Trinity, Long Itchington (Wikimedia Commons).

23/01/2026

If you missed our talk yesterday, here's a reminder of what's coming up at Kidderminster Historical Society in the next few months... If you see something that interests you, do put it in the diary now.

08/01/2026

Our next talk takes place on Thursday 22nd January at 2.30pm and is a real treat. Malcolm Dick will be speaking on John Baskerville (1707-1776), one of Kidderminster's most famous sons.

Baskerville was born at Sion Hill House, known to us in Kidderminster as the 'big house at the top of Sion Hill', and went on to establish himself in Birmingham as a major manufacturer of japanware and Britain’s most significant printer.

Even if you haven't heard of Baskerville, you will have seen his work because the "Baskerville" font, which is based on his design, is widely used today. (Apologies that we couldn't write this social media post in it, though!)

The presentation looks at the early Worcestershire influences upon his life, and the impact of Birmingham on his developing career. It finishes with an assessment of his importance locally, and in the wider world.

Dr Malcolm Dick is no stranger to the Society, being in fact our Honorary President, and has made several visits over the years. He is Honorary Associate Professor of History and, formerly, Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham. He has written extensively on the history of the West Midlands including books on the history of Birmingham, the Black Country, refugees and on members of the Lunar Society. In 2016 he co-edited a book on John Baskerville with Professor Caroline Archer-Parré. He is currently editing another book with Caroline which will present recent research on Baskerville.

As ever, all are welcome at this talk. A small charge applies for non-members. New memberships are also encouraged!

07/01/2026

Tick tock! Our talk on Big Ben is tomorrow, folks! All welcome. See below details. And scroll down for our current programme of talks.

Happy New Year! And here is a reminder that the clock is ticking down to our next talk: Thursday 8th January, at 2.30pm at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, Kidderminster. **Note that even though the Museum has now closed to the public, we are still able to use this venue for the current programme of talks.**

Alan Hill will be giving a talk entitled 'Big Ben: a British Icon'.

Big Ben is one of the most famous buildings in the world, though 'Big Ben' is actually the nickname given to the 'great bell' of the striking clock in the tower itself. The tower and clock are recognised around the world and are one of the most prominent symbols of the UK and parliamentary democracy. This talk tells their story.

Alan Hill is a retired engineer. Born in South Cumbria & brought up in South Yorkshire, he has lived & worked in the city of Birmingham for most of his life.

For more than 20 years, Alan has been giving talks on a wide range of subjects, including historical events & people, architecture, industrial archaeology, and engineering & technology.

All are very welcome. A small charge applies for non-members.