| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Coordinator: |
Our group has embarked on a range of visits to historical sites of various kinds, chosen and organised by members. Some visits, like that to Solihull School, have been very local, whilst others take us farther afield. Wherever possible, we use a Guide on site to take us round and provide information.
- The schedule usually includes either lunch or a very popular ‘tea & cake’!
- Planning meetings take place at regular intervals to discuss our programme.
- We use public transport, where feasible, or sort out car-sharing.
- A lunch is organised each December, in a local pub, to plan the next year and enhance the social aspect of the group
- Joint visits with other ssu3a groups take place occasionally.
Suggested Visits for Local History 2, during 2026/7
Acme Whistles, Birmingham. (Tony Robson, April)
Charterhouse, former Monastery. Now N.T. Coventry.(Kris Clark, May)
Arbury Hall, Nuneaton, not N.T.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford.. Backstage tour (Malcolm Clark Oct}
St.Mary Magdalene Church, Tanworth-in-Arden.(Christine Webb, July)
National Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Local Archery Activity, Meriden. (daylight only).
Kenilworth Castle.
Brindley Place, Canal cruise. Birmingham.
The Commandery, Worcester.(Val Blackburn, June/July)
Harvington Hall, Kidderminster..
Assay Office, Birmingham.
Norton Ironworks Museum, Bromsgrove.
Steam Train, Severn Valley Railway.
Forthcoming Meetings
Previous Meetings
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We learnt about the history of the Church through the centuries, the amazing architecture, the outstanding art work and the unbelievably beautiful Beauchamp Chapel.
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Members from Local History 2 and the Science Group set off to experience the Severn Valley Steam Railway. First stop: the café at Kidderminster's recreated 1890's station, where bacon sandwiches were the order of the day...
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We visited Wightwick Manor, an outstanding example of late Victorian craftsmanship. Begun in 1887 for a Wolverhampton paint maker, Theodore Mander, in the ‘Old English’ style, it provides an appropriate setting for a superb collection of William Morris fabrics and furnishings, period furniture, oriental rugs and porcelain, and pre-Raphaelite pictures
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We visited Knowle Library, where we heard a talk and viewed the exhibition on Ada Lovelace, a pioneer of computer programming.
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Members met to plan our activities for 2024, over a lunch at The Drum and Monkey. Suggestions included:
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We visited the museum, where we reminisced about the busses, trams and other vehicles from our past.