Local History Videos

  The video above showcases a series of photographs taken in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, on 13 April 2004.

  Twice a week for more than 70 years, customers and traders gathered for trade at the market place. Both the structure and goods traded changed over time. On Sunday 20th March 1994, the site was demolished. 1994 was a pivot point for Bromsgrove—the year the town traded its traditional "market town" identity for a modern retail model. The End of an Era: The Old Market Demolition For centuries, Bromsgrove’s identity was tied to the market area located behind the High Street, near the old Town Hall. By the early 1990s, the site had become a point of contention. The structures were aging, and the local council was under pressure to modernize the town to keep shoppers from drifting away to the new, climate-controlled malls in Redditch and Birmingham. In 1994 , the decision was finalized. The "Old Market"—characterized by its permanent stalls, corrugated roofing, and narrow walkways—was demolished. Along with it went the Old Town Hall , a building that had stood as a civ...

  Just over 24 minutes long, this home movie captures many of the floats and participants in the 1988 carnival, along with glimpses of a few spectators too.

  Aerial views of Bromsgrove, taken about 1960.

  Using old photographs shared on the 'Bromsgrove past and present' Facebook page, Tom Eveson created a fascinating slideshow showing the local people and places from the early 1900s to the 1970s.

  Rambles and researches among Worcestershire churches, with historical notes. (To which is added an account of the old manor house at Havington, Chaddesley Corbett) by George K. Stanton Published in 1884 Pages 244-247: BROMSGROVE. The Rev. A. Garnons-Williams, B.A., late senior curate at the parish church, preached his farewell sermon on Sunday evening, September 7th,1884. Previous to his departure from Bromsgrove, the teachers and scholars belonging to the Parish Church Sunday Schools presented to the rev. gentleman a silver inkstand, which bore the following inscription:-"Presented to the Rev. A. Garnons-Williams by the teachers and elder scholars of the Parish Church Sunday Schools." A presentation, consisting of a number of volumes of standard works, was also made to Mr. Williams, as a parting gift, from the parishioners, through Mr. B. H. Sanders.The Rev. F. E. Jones, B.A., and the Rev. E. J. Hall, B.A., are now (November, 1884) the curates at the parish church. The Cem...

  Salt Day Droitwich Spa 12th September 2009: GordonDipple (YouTube) Lots of people enjoyed a sunny Salt Day at Droitwich Spa in 2009.

  Droitwich Spa - Past and Present video film Circa 1994 from VHS tape: Adam Foulkes (YouTube) Adam Foulkes bought this VHS tape in a charity shop. Filmed in 1994, it shows the Carnival that year, before looking at the town's history. In addition to old photos and pictures of the area, there are a number of people and locations of 1994, including the Round Table's Donkey Derby.

 

  Bouyant Belles (1933): British Pathé (YouTube) In 1933, the Pathe Pictorial newsreel recorded the delights of the warm medicinal brine waters of the Droitwich Spa. It starts with an exterior shot of St Andrew's Brine Baths, before showing several young women and some men up to various antics in the water to demonstrate how the water is 40% more buoyant than the Dead Sea.

 

  Buoyant Belles - At Droitwich Spa (1926): British Pathé (YouTube) Four young women show off their new modern swim suits before demonstrating the buoyancy of Droitwich Spa's bathing water in 1926.

  Evesham fun day 1998: John Huntley (YouTube) How time flies! All the children and teenagers watching and performing will have grown up many years ago.

  Evesham Town… Moving images from the early 1980's: John Huntley (YouTube) Arthur Tolley gave this VHS home recording to John Huntley more than 30 years ago. The video incudes: the riverside Abbey Park Marine Ballroom (inside & out) car park (now apartments) the 'Gaiety' pleasure boat Abbey Bridge

 

  Plum Harvest In Evesham (1937): British Pathé (YouTube)

  Library of Congess

  Old photo of the bell tower at Evesham, Worcestershire, England, around the turn of the 20th century. Image: Library of Congress.

  Redditch .wmv: 1950eliz on YouTube

Mother Goose comes to Redditch: PHApantos on YouTube This promotional event for the Christmas Panto - Mother Goose - took place in the Kingfisher Centre. Many of the children will now be grown up.