PUBLICATIONS
We are pleased to present a range of books that have been published by local authors and Societies about various aspects of Kidderminster's history.
Local Historian Nigel Gilbert has produced a number of local history books about Kidderminster including ‘A History of Kidderminster’ Published by Phillimore, 2004 (see above); ‘Kidderminster Foreign - Portraits of Trimpley and Habberley’, edited by Nigel Gilbert Published by Kidderminster Foreign Parish Council, 2002; ‘The Rise and Fall of Franche Hall’ Published by Hencroft Press, 1999 and several more. For further details and how to purchase the books use our contact page.
John Combe
In the early 1900s Ebenezer Guest was a regular contributor to the Kidderminster Shuttle and under the title 'Old Kidderminster' published a series of articles recalling his memories of Kidderminster during a large part of the 19th century. He included descriptions of pubs, politics, civic buildings, housing development, schools, churches, industry and many other aspect of life in Victorian Kidderminster.
Unfortunately we no longer hold stocks of this book.
Melvyn Thompson
Books by Melvyn Thompson.
His book list: ‘Kidderminster Tramway’ with David Voice, 1998; ’Woven in Kidderminster’ 2002; ‘Weaving in Bridgnorth’ 2nd Edition 2004 (1st Edition by Frederick Head, 1947}; ‘St George’s a Waterloo Church’ 2009; 'Mills & Tall Chimneys’, 2012.
Scott Pettitt
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His booklet on the 'Non-Conformist Cemetery was published by Kidderminster Civic Society, 2006. This is an excellent guide for a tour around this original part of the the Kidderminster Cemetery.
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Available from the Museum of Carpet.
Some us will remember the swimming pool in Castle Road and many will have received swimming lessons there as well as going to Dances or to see the Wrestling. There may even be a few that remember taking the plunge in the outdoor pool in the old Reservoir in Foley Park. However, it is doubtful if anyone will remember swimming in the indoor pool in Mill Street - until someone gets in touch to prove us wrong!
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Well you can read all about the history of bathing facilities in Kidderminster in this account put together by Mike Loftus. A captivating detailed story of a piece of Kidderminster's past that seems to have slipped by without the tale having previously been told.
Betty Park
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'Brinton Park and Sutton Common’, Kidderminster'.
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Published by the Kidderminster Civic Society, 2008.
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We no longer have stocks of this book but it is possible that copies of this book care available at the Museum of Carpet, Green St, Kidderminster.
The original 1st Edition of the Monumental Inscriptions booklet was assembled by Bill Elliott in 1999 from data recorded by several Society members. It can be seen in the Local History Collection at Kidderminster Library.

A digital 2nd Edition is now available (December 2014). Typographical and other errors have been corrected and the Index has been overhauled. The new edition has been prepared as a digital and searchable PDF document and is available as a download from the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry at a cost of £2.50. To access the download click the following direct link:
'Caldwall Hall - Kidderminster' has been 'out of print' for several years but has now been produced as a digital edition with added index (published in 2016).
It is available as a download from the online E-shop of the Birmingham & Midland Genealogy & Heraldry Society at a cost of £2.50:
Kidderminster and District in the Second World War’,
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2006,
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Bill Wood, Bob Millward and Robert Barber.
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Available from
The Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society
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or online from
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'Great War Britain Kidderminster: Remembering 1914-18'
by Sally Dickson
2014
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Available from the
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The Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society
‘Old Kidderminster": pictures of the town in the 1890s by the artist John Knox Ferguson’
2009
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by
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Don Gilbert, Robert Barber
and
Jim Wilkinson.
A book by
Mike Abraham
of the Friends of Broadwaters Society.
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Mike tells us that “The book was inspired by the discovery that ‘Bessie Blount' from nearby Kinlet, a close relative of Edward Blount who in 1570 had the Stack Pool created in Broadwaters, had a child by Henry VIII. This led to other reading to find many other connections of local historical characters from areas within and around Broadwaters: such as the Attwoods of Wolverley Court and many others with their fascinating connections back into the history of England, with devious dealing, cheatings, poisonings and coups.”
The book is for sale directly from:
Mike Abraham at a cost of £16 and is also available at the Museum of Carpet shop in Green Street.
Two popular well illustrated books by
Robert Barber
‘Kidderminster the Second Selection’ Images of England 2002.
This book can be found in some local outlets or online at the The History Press
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The predecessor to the above publication
‘Kidderminster’
Images of England' 1999'
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has been reprinted and is available as above.
Heather Flack has produced another excellent book of local walks, this time around Kidderminster.
'Walking Kidderminster History'
Cost: £7.50
It is available at the Museum of Carpet or you can visit Heather's website
