Articles

This section covers all non-listed buildings.

Despite the ravages of demolition Kidderminster possesses many fine soundly-constructed buildings of all kinds. You have to look for them because of insensitive planning and the damage to the shape of the town wrought by the ring road. (‘Ring’ road is a misnomer as it passes virtually through the middle of the town centre.)

At the outer end of Worcester Street is the imposing 19th century Worcester Cross factory, more recently used as a magistrates court building. This awaits redevelopment.

On the other side of town in Park Lane is the extensive Rock Works, so called because it is built into the sandstone cliffs behind. This building has been unused for years and urgently requires ideas for its future use.

Off Churchfields, near St Mary’s church, lies the huge former Tomkinsons site, no longer producing carpets. It contains several excellent buildings of character, including one proudly showing its date 1902 visible from the ring road.

Across the town there are still quite a few larger houses of quality which survive. These include the early 19th century Leswell House lying largely unnoticed in suburban Leswell Grove. Another big house to escape attention is Elderslie, built in 1874 by the carpet manufacturer William Adam, but now part of Holy Trinity School. Lying discretely in Honeybrook Lane, Franche, is Honeybrook House.

Part of Kemp Hospice in Mason Road is the 18th century home of one of the pioneers of Kidderminster’s carpet industry, John Broom I. In 2005 the Civic Society unveiled a blue plaque at this site.

There are many examples of well-built, attractive terrace rows. Examples exist in Northumberland Avenue, Reservoir Road, Stourport Road, Park Street, Shrubbery Street and Imperial Avenue, but there are many others.

In Lower Mill Street is an old house once used by Frank Freeman for his dancing school. He also showcased up and coming bands in the 1960s who went on to achieve fame, such as Captain Beefheart and Tyrannosaurus Rex. In 2006 the Civic Society unveiled a blue plaque here.

Another building in need of attention is the unusual house in New Road, which was originally the entrance lodge for the cattle market. It is falling into disrepair.

A building of great interest is lies on the hospital site in Sutton Road, close to the junction with Bewdley Road. It is the only remaining part of the workhouse. Sadly it is unused and neglected, and clearly its future is in jeopardy.

Many of the town’s older pubs have gone, but a few survive. There is the Swan opposite the Town Hall, the Red Man in Blackwell Street and the Seven Stars in Coventry Street. The Freemason’s Arms (or lately the Barrel) in Bromsgrove Street has been boarded up for several years.

A number of the older chapels or small churches have survived. There is one in Park Street built by the Countess of Huntingdon’s congregation. Another substantial example is the Milton Hall Baptist Church in Lorne Street.

There remain some fine old school buildings, notably in Lea Street and Northumberland Avenue. There is an interesting 19th century grammar school building in Bewdley Road. At the present King Charles site are the attractive buildings fronting Chester Road South, erected in the early 20th century when it was the high school for girls.

Featured Article
Kidderminster Workhouse

Built in the early 18th. century this house has a history of being occupied by some interesting people.