History

Charford’s story told on new Heritage panels

by Jo Slade

Four interpretation panels which tell the story of the development of Charford and its important part in Bromsgrove’s successful post war reconstruction have been installed at key locations within the estate.

The heritage panels have come into existence thanks to a partnership with three local organisations - Bromsgrove Past & Present, The Bromsgrove Society and Bromsgrove District Council.

Annie Deeley, who runs the Bromsgrove Past & Present Facebook page, began researching the area after discovering that her husband John’s parents were amongst the first residents of the new estate, moving in shortly after the Second World War.

The Charford History Project developed into a series of talks, articles, guided walks, an online talk as part of The Bromsgrove Society’s recent season of local history talks and has culminated in the production of the four heritage panels.

The four heritage panels “The Development of the Charford Estate” cover the topics “Where it all began and why”, “The proposed new suburb”, “Lyttleton Avenue” and “Charford Road”. The panels contain detailed information and pictures to tell the story of the estate from choice of site, the initial plans, the first Garringtons houses, the building of the High School through to the completion of the estate.

The panels were designed, using words, images and layout supplied by Annie Deeley, by the marketing team at Bromsgrove District Council. They reflect the style of the heritage panels found in Bromsgrove High Street.

Pat Tansell, Chair of the Bromsgrove Society said “We were happy to support this important project and extend our thanks to Annie Deeley for the excellent research and to Arts Development Officer Stewart Sanderson for managing the project. We hope that the residents and visitors to the estate will find the panels interesting. Charford has a rich history and we hope that the panels will help build pride in the area.”

Michael Thompson, District Councillor, for the Charford Ward, has been involved from an early stage. Local Bromsgrove company Spire Graphics and Signs produced the panels which were put in place by the Worcestershire County Council Highways Department.

Anyone interested in local history is encouraged to visit the estate to view the heritage panels which can be found outside St Andrew’s Church on Lyttleton Avenue, on Humphrey Avenue close to the Community Hub, outside Charford First School and close to the site of the old Charford Mill, now South Bromsgrove High School on Charford Road.

An article on the history of the Charford Estate by Annie Deeley, was printed in a recent edition of the Rousler and is available via the book store on the Bromsgrove Society website www.bsoc.co.uk