Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

19 October 2007

Bromsgrove Local History

Bromsgrove dates back further than one may think. Bromsgrove was actually recorded in the Domesday Book and at the time it's status as a settlement was far higher than Birmingham. According to official records, the town has not always gone by the name Bromsgrove, but names such as Bremesgfrefa, Bremesgrave and Bremesbyrig. These names are thought to come from Anglo-Saxon ages.

The trace of Roman settlement can still be seen today in the High Street itself, for it still follows a road the Romans built.

Industry played a large part in Bromsgrove. In the 16th Century the town's nail making industry grew rapidly, and lasted over 300 years, until the introduction of machine made nails. The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts was founded in the town in 1894 and achieved international fame and recognition. One of the more famous works of the craftsmen are the gates of Buckingham Palace, London.

In 1921 the Guild became a limited company known as Bromsgrove Guild Ltd, with some members taking up directorships. It seems that several members left the Guild at this time and continued their work independently, and commissions were passed to them by the Guild from time to time. Although all records that have survived show that a vast number of commissions were undertaken in various media between then and the time in 1966 when the Guild closed.

More Modern Times

A local Government Board and Town Commissioners had been set up in 1859 to look after affairs in the growing town. They were replaced by two local Boards in 1861 and these, in 1894, became the Urban Districts of Bromsgrove and North Bromsgrove repectively. In 1933 these were merged into one Urban Districts of Bromsgrove

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