Bromsgrove Society Publications

The Bromsgrove Guild - an Illustrated History

Edited by Quintin Watt

This superb the latest publication from the Bromsgrove Society followed 5 years of research by our Local History group. It has 160 pages and contains over 100 illustrations, 25 of which are in colour. In addition to the fascinating story of a business which brought Bromsgrove to world wide prominence, it includes:-

Interviews with four former Guild employees

A useful gazeteer of Bromsgrove Guild work in the West Midlands

Appendices which include lists of all known Bromsgrove Guild personnel as well as Guild commissions carried out in London and abroad

The Bromsgrove Guild - An Illustrated History is obtainable from bookshops priced £11.95 It is also available at £13.50, inc postage in U.K.

A few copies are still available of the limited hardback edition. This collectors edition of only 400 copies comes complete with dust jacket in full colour and will not be re-printed.
£25 or £27 including postage in U.K.
only available from John Weston (see below)

The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts was founded in 1898 by the sculptor Walter Gilbert. During the next seventy years the firm developed into a thriving commercial enterprise, acquiring an international reputation for the high quality of its craftsmanship in metalwork, woodcarving, plasterwork, stained glass and other media. Celebrated Guild contracts included Liverpool's famous Liver Birds, ornate metalwork on the great Cunarders Lucitania and Queen Mary and the statue of Hygiea which stand in the garden of the Prime Minister's country residence, Chequers. However, the Bromsgrove Guild's most memorable commission was to create the wrought iron gates of Buckingham Palace. As a result of completing this particular task the Guild received a Royal Warrant in 1908. When not working on such high profile projects, the firm produced large quantities of lead rainwater goods, garden statuary, fountains, sundials, wrought iron work and bronze light fittings.

Extracts from book reviews and letters received following the launch of the book about the Bromsgrove Guild:-

"The authors have provided us with a well-researched, high quality book which is a fitting testimony to the high quality work produced by an organisation which, more than any other, helped to put Bromsgrove on the map".

Dr Simon Penn, Avoncroft Museum of Buildings

"Well-crafted masterpiece ... beautifully illustrated and splendidly researched ... a visual delight which would make a fine Christmas present".

Ralph Richardson, Redditch Advertiser.

"I have now had a chance to read the book from cover to cover and I would like to offer my congratulations to all involved in its preparation and production. I think it is really excellent."

John Powell. Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

"What a splendid book you have all produced, magnificently presented and full of interest with excellent illustrations. It is a treasure!"

Mary Banks, daughter of George Whewell who was the last chairman of the Bromsgrove Guild.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Benjamin Sanders

Buttonmaker of Bromsgrove

Editor Dr. Alan Richards

112 pages with mny illustrations

£4.25 or £5 including postage in U.K.

Bygone Bromsgrove

Editor John Foster

This book was first printed in 1981 and has been our all time best seller. Among those contributing are Dr. Alan Richards, Rev. W. Awdry, Bill Kings, John Burnham and Robert Pancheri. 140 pages, many illustrations and an index.

Although this book is currently out of print, occasionaly secondhand copies are available.

Contact John Weston (see below).

The Bromsgrove Rousler

The Rousler is published in December every year and is currently on it's twenty fourth issue. It costs just £2.50 and is available from local newsagents, W.H.Smith, Waterstones Bookshop or directly from John Weston for £3 including postage in the UK (overseas please call)

The Bromsgrove Rousler’s popularity as a local history magazine continues to grow and despite printing more copies we have exhausted our stock of back issues for certain years. However where we have copies available they may be obtained by contacting John Weston to whom all enquiries for Bromsgrove Society publications should be directed.

Click here for more details

All publications are available from:

John Weston, 20, Sunningdale Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England B61 7NN. Tel: 01527 873483

Some publications may be obtained from local bookshops.

All postage stated is for inside UK only, Please contact John Weston for overseas postage costs

Cheques should be made payable to: The Bromsgrove Society.