| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Facilitator: | |
| Facilitator: | |
| When: | Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm First Monday of each month |
| Venue: | Baptist Church Timberley Lane |
| Cost: | £2 |
The Local History group held their Christmas celebration at the Grimscote Manor in January with an afternoon tea.
St Mary and Margaret's Church
The History Group had a successful tour of St Mary and St Margaret's Church on 7 October. Half of the group climbed the 99 steps to the top of the tower, to see the original wooden beams and the views. They all commented on how green the views are.
There are about 15 members of this group, who meet monthly at the Baptist Church in Timberley Lane. Sometimes they have a speaker, but more recently they have been doing some research
- The group are looking at relevant photos and documents acquired following the closure of Shard End Local History Society.
- The group has developed its work, moving from a long “wallpaper” timeline to lightweight display boards presenting the history of Castle Bromwich in 50-year sections.
We have found out lots of interesting things. Did you know that in the summer of 1876 the Bridgeman family had an important guest at Castle Bromwich Hall.
Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli came to visit the Earl of Bradford. He arrived by steam train from London at Stechford station and was then driven in a horse-drawn carriage to Castle Bromwich Hall.
To tell the truth, Disraeli had not really come to visit Lord Bradford. He had come to see Lady Bradford, Selina Bridgeman. The Prime Minister's wife had died four years previously after a marriage of 33 years. Now aged 72, he was desperately lonely. In recent years he had written frequently to the Countess of Bradford, sometimes three times a day! She gave him comfort in his grief. Altogether Disraeli wrote 1100 letters to Lady Bradford!
History walks around Castle Bromwich
The History walk held two walks around Castle Bromwich in June. They started by looking at the site of the earliest settlement in Castle Bromwich (Pimple Hill) and then walked through the village looking at the many beautiful and key buildings that are in Castle Bromwich. The photo is taken outside Millbrick, one of the houses built in the Arts and Craft style, using bricks from the old Castle Bromwich Mill. The walk was open to all U3A members and it was pleasing that not all the walkers were Local History group members.
We have been working on a time line for Castle Bromwich
Visit to Aston Parish Church
The Local History group would be interested in your (or your children's) memories of their Castle Bromwich schooldays.
If you have a childhood story to tell, please contact Group Facilitators Barbara Durrant or Paulette Burkill.