AN ART and heritage project to celebrate Bromsgrove’s Sanders family and the Button Factory will take place tomorrow and Saturday (October 27 and 28) in the town.
The Bromsgrove Society is working with Laura Brodrick from Think Big Picture to create a mosaic-style piece of art to celebrate the history of the button industry in Bromsgrove and the legacy of the Sanders family.
Residents are urged to take part and contribute towards the community artwork between 10am and 11.30am this morning at Bromsgrove Library or from 1pm to 3pm tomorrow at the Creative Art Showcase at Bromsgrove School.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the workshops and there’s no need to book.
All materials will be provided but if people want to bring along their own buttons, they can.
The finished piece will form the top of a coffee table which will be housed at Bromsgrove Library.
The table’s base is being constructed by Bromsgrove Men in Sheds, the group run by Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest.
The project is funded and supported by the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire and Bromsgrove District Council.
Historian Pat Tansell is leading the project.
She said “During the project we also hope to collect memories from people with family associations with the button factory as well as the later badge factory including anyone who put the pins in as an outworker on piece work.”
“Anyone with memories to contribute can send them by email to [email protected] or speak to representatives at the workshops.”
Who was Benjamin Sanders?
Benjamin Sanders moved his button manufactory from Birmingham to a premises at the back of the High Street in Bromsgrove in 1821.
Five years later he relocated the business to the former Sidemoor Mill where Button Drive is today, off Willow Road.
Benjamin Sanders’ patent for a new method of attaching the shank to cloth covered buttons bought him and his family wealth.
After his death, his descendants carried on the business before handing over its management to the Nicholls family who continued to trade as B Sanders and Sons.
The building suffered a serious fire in 1915.
Work was soon resumed in temporary premises and a scheme was organised to find alternative work for some of the women before the factory fully re-opened.
The original button factory site in Windsor Street is currently being renovated by its owner.
