Bromsgrove
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England. The town is 16 miles north east of Worcester and 18 miles south west of Birmingham. It had a population of 27,633 in 2001 and is in Bromsgrove District.
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[edit] Geography and Administration
[edit] Geography and Geology
The solid geology of Bromsgrove is that of Keuper sandstone, with an approximate age equivalence with the Muschelkalk group of Germany (Mid to late Triassic). It shows red bed facies and was probably laid down in a shallow ocean when the climate was semi arid. The soil around Bromsgrove is particularly good for market gardening. It is very good for growing vegetables due to Marl bands.
Bromsgrove has a rainfall of between 27 and 28 inches annually and the district is at a general elevation of between 200 to 300 feet above sea level.[2]
[edit] Political
Bromsgrove's MP is Julie Kirkbride. As a largely rural constituency with affluent residential areas, Bromsgrove is strongly conservative, swinging further to the Tories during Labour's major election win in 1997. The population has a small ethnic minority. Bromsgrove has its own youth branch of Conservatives called Bromsgrove Conservative Future.
[edit] History
Bromsgrove is first documented in the early 9th century as Bremesgraf. Later in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 909 A.D. Bromsgrove is mentioned as Bremesburh. Then in the Doomsday Book Bromsgrove is referenced as Bremesgrave. The Breme part of the place name is almost certainly a Saxon personal name.
Prior to 1086 Bromsgrove is known to had a Royal chief manor, a priest and three mills. It was an important royal vill astride to the Roman road linking Droitwich with the northern Midlands. It was a centre of a very large parish and its church was certainly of minister status. Bromsgrove as all the towns in north Worcestershire was committed to defending the city of Worcester and is recorded to of contributed burgesses to Droitwich in 1086. There may have been Saxon or Norman fortifications in Bromsgrove but other than in literature no evidence remains.
In the Anglo-Saxon times, Bromsgrove had a woodland economy, consisting of hunting, maintenance of haies and pig farming.[3]
At one time, Bromsgrove was a centre for the woollen trade, which went into decline before the 17th century.
The Bromsgrove Union Workhouse, on the Birmingham Road, was opened in 1838 and closed in 1948 and is in use as offices.
Nail making was introduced by the French Huguenots in the 17th Century and became a thriving industry. At one point Bromsgrove was the world centre of nail making. Mechanisation quickly put the industry into decline.
Bromsgrove was home for many years to the world-famous "Bromsgrove Guild", a company of craftsmen who produced many fine works of sculpture, ironwork, etc., including the gates of Buckingham Palace (whose locks are stamped with the Guild's name), the lifts on the Lusitania and the famous statue adorning the Fortune Theatre in Drury Lane. Details of these and other works are available in a recent book on the subject.
In 1841, Bromsgrove railway works was established. It was primarily a maintenance facility but also built locomotives. The works provided employment for people in Bromsgrove. In 1964, following a reorganisation of railway workshops, the works closed and was demolished. The site is now a housing estate. The turntable pit still remains.
Major restoration of the Norman and 13th century St John the Baptist church was carried out in 1858 by Sir George Gilbert Scott.[4]
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Worcester Road was built by Gilbert Blount in 1858.[5]
The fish and chip shop above which Lord Lucan was rumoured to have hidden during the late 1970s has been demolished.
[edit] Landmarks
There is a statue of Alfred Edward Housman in the high street, which was erected in 1985. There is also a sculpture of a dryad and boar in the high street.
Bromsgrove is home to Grafton Manor which dates back to the 13th century.[6] It has a rich history, some historians believed it to be involved in the gunpowder plot.
[edit] Economy
In 2004, 33,175 people in Bromsgrove District were in employment, with Mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas and water supply being the biggest sector of employment.[1]
Many of Bromsgrove's residents find employment in Birmingham, Redditch, Worcester and other places along the motorway network. MG Rover was a major employer of Bromsgrove residents until its collapse in May 2005.
Bromsgrove is still home to LG Harris Ltd, a maker of quality paint brushes. Though now most brushes are made in China for economic reasons.
New business parks in Aston Fields, Buntsford Hill and Harris's Business Park are helping to revitalise the local economy. Bromsgrove District Council is aiming to create a technology corridor along the A38 to take advantage of the area's excellent road links, partly to mitigate the effects of the MG Rover collapse.
[edit] Present Day
[edit] Communal Facilities
Bromsgrove has a medium sized public community library situated in the centre of the town. The library offers not only books but also music CDs, spoken word on CD and cassette, foreign language tapes, videos and DVDs, for adults and children. There are 25 computers available with internet access.[7]
Bromsgrove has a municipal park, Sanders Park. Facilities include: basketball courts, tennis courts, a skate park, children's play area and football pitches. A bonfire night is held annually with a large fireworks display and fair ground rides. Other events are held such as big band afternoons where bands play in the bandstand.
There is a large public leisure and sports centre in the town centre called 'The Dolphin Centre'. It has two swimming pools and a large sports hall. Many different activities and clubs are held here, such as the Bromsgrove Swimming Club. It is maintained by Bromsgrove District Council
[edit] Transport
Bromsgrove has excellent road links with the A38 that cuts through the town, the M5 motorway bordering the west side and the M42 motorway starting at the north of the town.
Bromsgrove railway station is situated to the south of the town. There are frequent trains to Birmingham New Street, Worcester Foregate Street and Hereford.
There is also a bus station right in the heart of Bromsgrove, adjacent to the high street. Buses operate to a wide area of Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
[edit] Education
[edit] State Schools
Bromsgrove schools use a three-tier education system (First School, Middle School, High School). However, there are plans for this to be changed to a two-tier system in the future.
Bromsgrove has 12 first schools in its district. There are 5 middle schools, Alvechurch Middle School, Catshill Middle School, Aston Fields Middle School, St John's Middle School and Parkside Middle School.
There are two high schools, North Bromsgrove High School and South Bromsgrove High Schools. South Bromsgrove is a specialist school in foreign languages and I.T, noted for its extensive use of information technology. The previous headteacher, Philip McTague was heavily involved in political action to correct the gap in funding between Worcestershire state schools and others across the country. North Bromsgrove High School is currently preparing a bid for specialist status in arts.
Most of the state schools, including the two high schools, are now being rebuilt in a PFI scheme. Most of this work should be finished by 2009.
[edit] Private Schools
Bromsgrove is also home to 'Bromsgrove School' (founded in 1553) a private, co-educational independent school with three campuses catering for pupils from nursery to sixth-form that offers boarding facilities. Digby Jones, head of the CBI for many years, went to Bromsgrove School.
[edit] Special Schools
There are two special schools in Bromsgrove one of them is Chadsgrove School and Specialist Sports College. The School is for children between 2 years and 19 years old, who have a physical disability. Many pupils also have additional sensory, communication or learning difficulties. Chadsgrove also has a swimming pool and large muti-sensory room. It has just attained the Specialist Sports College status.
[edit] Further Education
Bromsgrove is the main site of North East Worcestershire College, better known as NEW College. NEW College has recently built a motorcycle academy with a £1.7 million grant from Advantage West Midlands, it has been extensively equipped by Harley Davidson.[8]
[edit] Sport
Bromsgrove is home to :-
- Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club, one of the oldest clubs in the country. It was formed on the 28 September 1872.[9]
- Bromsgrove Rovers Football Club.
- Bromsgrove Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club.
[edit] Attractions
The Avoncroft Museum of Buildings has its home in Bromsgrove. This museum includes the National Telephone Kiosk Collection. There is also another museum in the town, called simply "Bromsgrove Museum".
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal runs close to Bromsgrove, it is popular for leisure activities such as walking and fishing. There are several narrowboat hire centres situated in villages close to Bromsgrove. The Tardebigge lock flight, with 30 locks, is one of largest in Europe
Bromsgrove is five miles away from the historic country house Hanbury Hall, which is open to the public.
Since 2005, Bromsgrove has its own arts centre, the Artrix. Plays, stand up comedians, bands and professional dance groups perform here. It is also used as a cinema.
Bromsgrove's nightlife scene was dominated by "Euphoria" (known to some locals as "Euph" or "Euthanasia"), a nightclub featuring a mixture of styles ranging from pure pop to commercial dance. On the 20 February 2006, Euphoria underwent refurbishing, it opened 6 July 2006 under the new name Aura. Popular pubs in the town-centre include The Red Lion, The Golden Cross Hotel, The Hogs Head and the Wishing Well. A Barracuda called the Rousler has opened in the High street. Ye Olde Black Cross is another popular pub in Bromsgrove, know for its alternative live music and unique atmosphere. The large number of restaurants and pubs is beginning to make Bromsgrove a popular "night out" location.
Bromsgrove is close to the Lickey Hills, Clent Hills, Waseley Hills, and to rural Worcestershire and Birmingham.
[edit] Town Twinning and Friendship Links
Bromsgrove was twinned with the German town of Gronau in May 1980.A formal friendship link document was signed between Bromsgrove and the district of Saint Sauveur Lendelin in Normandy, France, in July 1999. Annual exchange visits are made by Bromsgrove and District Twinning Association members to each town with great success.[10]
Twinning
Friendship Link
Sauveur Lendelin, France
[edit] Energy policy
In May 2006, a report commissioned by British Gas[11] showed that housing in Bromsgrove produced the 14th highest average carbon emissions in the country at 7,133 kg of carbon dioxide per dwelling.
- See also: Energy efficiency in British housing.
[edit] Notable Residents.
- Alfred Edward Housman, 1859, poet.
- Geoffrey Hill, 1932, poet.
- Mark Williams, 1959, actor.
- Nicholas Evans, author, best known for The Horse Whisperer.
- Alan M. Smith, 1962, footballer.
- Nicola Charles, 1969, Actor.
- Richard Orford, TV Presenter.
- Matthew Priest, Musician.
- Simon Clifton, Carpenter.
- Fyfe Dangerfield, Musician
- Ernest Anthony Pratt (or Anthony E Pratt) (1903 - 1994). The inventor of the board game Cluedo is buried in Bromsgrove Cemetery [1].
- Pat Roach (1937 - 2004). Wrestler and Actor is buried in Bromsgrove Cemetery [2].
Singer/actor, Michael Ball was born in Bromsgrove.
Singer/songwriter Clifford T. Ward, who lived in nearby Stourport, taught English and drama in Bromsgrove before resigning to concentrate on his solo career.
[edit] Bibliography
- Bromsgrove (Images of England) - ISBN 0-7524-1146-2
- Glory Gone: The Story of Nailing in Bromsgrove - ISBN 0-9513525-1-2
[edit] External links
- Bromsgrove Advertiser Local Bromsgrove weekly newspaper
- The Artrix
- Bromsgrove Workhouse History and Information
- Bromsgrove CAMRA Bromsgrove branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale)
- Bromsgrove Conservative Future
- Bromsgrove District Council
- Bromsgrove Library Information regarding Bromsgrove library
- Bromsgrove Rovers FC
- Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club
- Bromsgrove School
- Bromsgrove Standard The Local Bromsgrove weekly newspaper
- NEW College in Bromsgrove and Redditch
- North Bromsgrove High School
- South Bromsgrove High School
- Chadsgrove School and Specialist Sports College
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bromsgrove Statistics. Worcestershire County Council (2006). Retrieved on 2006-01-13.
- ^ The British Association (1950). Birmingham & Its Regional Setting: A Scientific Survey. The Local Executive Committee.
- ^ Slater & Jarvis (1982). Field and Forest. Geo Books. ISBN 0-86094-099-3.
- ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 Penguin. p109
- ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 Penguin. p110
- ^ Hisory of Grafton Manor. Grafton Manor Hotel. Retrieved on 2006-01-14.
- ^ Bromsgrove Public Library. Worcestershire County Council (2006). Retrieved on 2006-01-13.
- ^ The Motorcycle Academy. Advantage West Midlands (2006). Retrieved on 2006-01-21.
- ^ Cowlin, John (1999). History of Bromsgrove RFC. In Touch Online. Retrieved on 2006-01-14.
- ^ Bromsgrove and District Twinning Association History and Aims. This is Worcestershire (2006). Retrieved on 2006-01-22.
- ^ Domestic Carbon Dioxide Emissions for Selected Cities
| Settlements on the A38, Worcester to Birmingham | edit | |
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Heading north: Worcester | Droitwich Spa | Wychbold | Bromsgrove | Lickey End | Rubery | Longbridge | Northfield | Selly Oak | Edgbaston | Birmingham |
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