A WHOLE host of events centred around Bromsgrove’s heritage and culture are on offer this month as part of a long-running festival.
Bromsgrove District Council have partnered with heritage organisations across the region to promote a jam-packed Heritage Open Days Festival.
Heritage Open Days is the largest festival of free heritage events in England. For ten days organisations are encouraged to host events, open their doors, and welcome in their communities for free.
The festival focuses on the theme of Architecture for 2025.
Supported by the National Trust and People’s Postcode Lottery, the festival is designed to break down barriers and encourage residents to find the hidden gems right on their doorstep.
Across Bromsgrove there are seven venues taking part in the festival which runs between September 12 and 21.
Cabinet member for leisure and climate change, councillor Bernard McEldowney, said: “Every year we see volunteers and staff from so many organisations work incredibly hard to put on free events for our residents.
“I am continually grateful to all those who make it possible every year for us to promote such a full schedule.
“There really is something for everyone.”
New for this year, the Council are encouraging visitors to attend as many events and locations as possible for the chance to win exciting prizes as part of their Heritage Hunters campaign.
Visit bromsgrove.gov.uk/hods for more information. Festival booklets can be seen online or picked up at participating venues.
Whats on
Visitors to All Saints Church, Burcot Lane can enjoy stained glass windows, Bromsgrove Guild craftsmanship and memorabilia from the church’s 150th anniversary, alongside an exhibition about the town’s button factory. There will also be a book stall, refreshments and displays on the church’s history and personalities. The event runs on Saturday, September 13 between 10am and 4pm and Sunday, September 14 between 2pm and 4pm.
The Norton Collection Museum opens on Saturday, September 13 between 10am and 4pm and Saturday, September 20 between 10am and 4pm, with displays on the Bromsgrove Guild, glass, buttons, nails, railways, Court Leet, Chartists, hardware, bicycles and Banshee Motorcycles, plus a recreated Edwardian high street.
The Greenhouse at Barnes Close, Chadwich hosts an open day on Tuesday, September 16 between 10am and 3pm, with an illustrated display on 95 years of history including its Cadbury family links and role in peace and reconciliation. At 2pm, artist and architect Clare Nisbet-Clossick will give a special talk on Bromsgrove’s 20th century architecture.
The Former Chapel in Windsor Street will be open on Wednesday, September 17 between 11am and 2pm. The Grade II listed building features a Greek Revival entrance with Doric columns, Hardman Studios stained glass, a WWI memorial board and decorative scripture tablets, with alterations by architect John Cotton. Visitors can view both side elevations following recent demolition nearby, see history displays, enjoy refreshments and are advised to remove shoes on the martial arts floor mats.
Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, Stoke Heath will be offering free entry across 19 acres of historic buildings on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, both days from 10am to 4pm.
Attractions include a working windmill, medieval hall, Victorian toll house, prefab, National Collection of Telephone Kiosks and a Showman’s Wagon. Families can enjoy free heritage bus rides, a miniature train, vintage fun fair, games, crafts, an art exhibition, samba band, tombola and raffle. Dogs on leads are welcome, and refreshments, parking and handmade cakes are available.
St John’s Church, Kidderminster Road combines music and history on Saturday, September 20 with a coffee and cake concert at 10.30am, followed by its Side-by-Side Open Day until 3pm.
Visitors can learn about the spire restoration project, try heritage craft skills such as stone carving and lime pointing, see demonstrations by a structural engineer and architect, and build a model of the church. Myth-busting talks by historian Simon Henderson and refreshments will also be available.
St John’s Court Nursing Home will open on Saturday, September 20 between 2pm and 4pm. Formerly a vicarage and later council offices, the Grade II listed building features Jacobethan revival gables, an oriel window and later extensions by C.E. Bateman and others. Visitors can view displays on the history of the building and enjoy tea, coffee and cake, with supervised children and dogs on leads welcome.
