Glimpse history through a selection of old photographs and films of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Old Photos of Bromsgrove
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.
Bromsgrove About 1960
Aerial views of Bromsgrove, taken about 1960.
1988 Carnival
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.
Old Bromsgrove Market
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.
Around the Town Centre 2004
A series of photographs taken on 13 April 2004.
A Bit of Bromsgrove History
Extract from:
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 Cemetery at Bromsgrove is pleasantly situated on the north side of the churchyard, and is divided therefrom by the turnpike-road leading towards the Kidderminster Road.
What is generally termed the old part of the Cemetery was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Worcester on the 6th of January, 1858. It comprised upwards of six acres of land, and cost, including the erection of the lodge, laying out the ground, planting shrubs, architect’s commission, &c., £2504 6s.
In 1872 it was decided to enlarge the Cemetery, by the purchase of upwards of four and a-half acres of land adjoining, in the rear, which cost, including the laying-out of the ground, and other charges, £1492 13s.3d.
The interments have averaged, since the opening of the Cemetery, 186 a year, the number from January, 1858, to December the 31st,1883, being 4838. The greatest number interred in any one year was in 1878 (252), and the lowest (131) in 1880. During the present year(1884) the interments from January to September 30th have been 123 only, which is below the average.
The Cemetery Cross was erected as a memorial to the late John Adams, Esq., of Perry Hall, Bromsgrove, who died on the 7th January,1858 (the day after the consecration of the Cemetery), aged 91 years.The cost was borne by the late Rev. T. Housman (one of his executors) and the late Rev. Dr. Collis. At the base of the column are the symbols of the four Evangelists, the name and death-date of Mr. Adams, the date of the consecration of the Cemetery, and the text, 1Cor.xv.55, “ODeath,where is thy sting?O grave,where is thy victory?” on alternate faces. The inscriptions and emblems on the pediments are as follows:- On the south side, a small Latin cross, with the motto of the Emperor Constantine beneath it, “In hoc signo vinces”(in this sign shalt thou conquer). On the east side the Alpha and Omega interlaced; beneath, “EgoResurrectio et Vita” (I am the Resurrection and the Life). On the north side, the IHS; beneath,”Beati mortui in Domino” (blessed are the dead who die in the Lord). On the west side, XP, the two first letters of the Greek name of Christ; beneath,”Ego Via,Veritas,Vita”(I am the Way, the Truth, the Life).
The memorials in the Cemetery are numerous, and some of them handsome and very massive. Of this class is the tomb erected to the memory of Mr. Elijah Walton and his wife, the base of which is a large block of slate, upon which rests a thick slab of white marble, over the same is a block of polished Aberdeen granite, and from this springs a Latin cross of white marble; and the whole is surrounded by dwarf iron palisading, of appropriate design.
The memorial to the late Mr. H. Taylor, of the Linthurst, is also massive. It consists of a rough block or boulder of Sicilian marble, surmounted by a wrought Latin cross of the same material in imitation of natural wood, with scroll entwined. The shaft of the latter bears the appropriate legend, “Simply to Thy cross I cling;” and the whole design is intended to symbolise Faith on the sure foundation. Mr. Taylor died on the 9th March,1881, aged 71 years.
On a tomb to the memory of Ann, wife of the Rev. Thomas Warren, of Moreton Hall, who died March 10th,1866, aged 86 years, is engraved the following couplet
Joy to the pilgrim that the journey is o’er,
Joy to the weary that the race is run.
The said Mr. Warren, who left several benefactions for charitable objects, died on the 25th of August,1874, aged 81 years.
The memorial to the Rev. John Day Collis, D.D., formerly headmaster of Bromsgrove Grammar School (1842-67), and afterwards vicar of Stratford-on-Avon, consists of a simple Latin cross, upon the base of which is the following inscription-
HERE RESTS IN HOPE
THE BODY OF
JOHN DAY COLLIS,
WHO DIED APRIL IST, 1879,
AGED 63 YEARS.
On a stone to the memory of Amelia Yates, who died May 4th, 1858, aged 68 years, is the following
Relations dear, refrain from tears,
Here I shall lie till Christ appears;
And when He comes I hope to have
A joyful rising from the grave.
On an obelisk, raised as a memorial to Ellen Elizabeth Fox, who died December 1st,1859, aged 13 years
Here rests in peace a much-lamented child,
Of manners gentle, and of temper mild;
Prompt to obey, in wisdom’s path she trod,
And early knew her Saviour and her God.
On a neat stone, which records the death of Caroline Neale, who died April 3rd,1870, aged 9 years, is the following
She is not dead-the child of our affection,
But gone into that school
Where she no longer needs our poor protection,
And Christ Himself shall rule.
On May 10th,1875, James Mason, aged 101 years, was interred, and on the 22nd of the same month was buried Ann Rea, aged 100 years; also, since the opening of the Cemetery, eighteen other persons have been interred, whose ages varied between ninety and one hundred years.
The first Burial Board, which has the control of the Cemetery, &c., was formed on the 3rd of December, 1855. The Board is composed of nine members, three of whom retire each year, in March, but are eligible for re-election. Mr. H. Barrett is clerk to the Board, and Mr. J. W. Rose is lodge-keeper and registrar.
