This was followed by afternoon tea on the lawn which, on a very hot day, was doubly welcome. On the same day, Philip Bowen, Deputy Headmaster, outlined the history of Bromsgrove School. He was speaking in Cookes Room where the portrait of the founder, Thomas Cookes, hangs on the wall and where the foundation deed of the school is on display. He was followed by Andrew Maund, now Head of English at The Kings School, Worcester, evoking A.E. Housman's schooldays at Bromsgrove. In the afternoon, Philip Bowen gave a guided tour of the school site. Students were particularly impressed with the lavish residence built for headmaster R.G. Routh in 1914.
At Housman Hall on 10 July, Andrew Harris described the Vernon family of Hanbury, and in the afternoon, students visited Hanbury Hall. At Cookes Room, Jenny Townshend and Julian Hunt used local probate inventories to trace the origins of the local nail industry. They were followed by Pat Tansell, who described the nail industry in 19th century Bromsgrove. She surprised the audience by producing a colour photograph of one of the last nailers in Bromsgrove, Albert Crane. It came from the front cover of the Meccano Magazine in May, 1954. In the afternoon, Mark Clifford, Project Officer for the nailer's cottage at Avoncroft Museum, showed students the site earmarked for the Catshill nailer's cottage and discussed options for the interpretation of the building. The rooms are to be laid out as they were in 1930 when the former nailshop was converted into a bedroom!
At Housman Hall on Thursday 11 July, Julian Hunt explained how the Lytteltons of Hagley clung to the old religion and got involved in Essex's Rebellion and the Gunpowder Plot. In the 18th century, Thomas Lyttleton married into one of the leading Whig families, the Temples of Stowe in Buckinghamshire, from whom the Lytteltons eventually inherited the title of Lords Cobham. Thomas Lyttelton's son George became Private Secretary to Frederick Prince of Wales and later Chancellor of the Exchequer. In the 19th century, another George Lyttelton married Mary Glynne, whose sister Catherine was married to William Ewart Gladstone. In the afternoon students enjoyed a tour of Hagley Hall, with Lord Cobham himself as their guide. Over at Cookes Room, Michael Hall, Chairman of the Francis Brett Young Society, traced the life of the Midland novelist Francis Brett Young.
The accommodation and catering for the Bromsgrove Summer School is provided by Bromsgrove School, whose continued support for this annual event is greatly appreciated. The programme is prepared by Julian Hunt and other members of the Bromsgrove Society's Local History Group. Administration and finance are in the more capable hands of Chris Nesbitt, Secretary, and John Rowlands, Treasurer. The next Bromsgrove Summer School will be held at Bromsgrove School 8-10 July 2014.
