Editing Kidderminster

{{Short description|Civil parish and human settlement in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name= Kidderminster
| static_image_name        = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280
|image_style = border:1;
|perrow = 1/2/2
|image1 = Kidderminster town centre, Kidderminster, Worcs, geograph 6411691 by P L Chadwick.jpg 
|image2 = Kiddenminster - panoramio (5).jpg 
|image3 = Slingfield Mill Chimney, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1022793.jpg
}}
 | static_image_caption     = Clockwise, from top:Town centre, with the [[Kidderminster Town Hall|Town Hall]], fronted by a statue of [[Rowland Hill|Sir Rowland Hill]]; Slingfield Mill Chimney; [[St Mary and All Saints' Church, Kidderminster|St Mary and All Saints' Church]] seen from the [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]]
|coordinates= {{coord|52.3885|-2.2490|display=inline,title}}
|area_total_km2= {{convert|1624.75|ha|km2|2|disp=number}}
|population= 57,400
|population_ref= ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])<ref name="CPkidpar2021">{{cite web |title=KIDDERMINSTER Parish in West Midlands |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/westmidlands/admin/wyre_forest/E04012638__kidder |publisher=City Population |access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref>
|os_grid_reference= SO831767
|london_distance= {{convert|131|miles|km}} [[Points of the compass|SE]]
|civil_parish= Kidderminster
|shire_district= [[Wyre Forest District|Wyre Forest]]
|shire_county= [[Worcestershire]]
|region= West Midlands
|country= England
|post_town= KIDDERMINSTER
|postcode_area= DY
|postcode_district= DY10, DY11
|dial_code= 01562
|constituency_westminster= [[Wyre Forest (UK Parliament constituency)|Wyre Forest]]
|website= [http://www.kidderminstertowncouncil.gov.uk/ Kidderminster Town Council]
}}

'''Kidderminster''' is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in [[Worcestershire]], England, {{convert|18|mi}} south-west of [[Birmingham]] and {{convert|15|mi}} north of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. Located north of the [[River Stour, Worcestershire|River Stour]] and east of the [[River Severn]], in the 2021 [[census]], it had a population of 57,400.<ref name="CPkidpar2021"/> The town is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Husum, Germany]].

Situated in the far north of Worcestershire (and with its northern suburbs only 3 and 4 miles from the [[Staffordshire]] and [[Shropshire]] borders respectively), the town is the main administration centre for the wider [[Wyre Forest District]], which includes the towns of [[Stourport-on-Severn]] and [[Bewdley]], along with other outlying settlements.

==History==
{{See also|History of Worcestershire}}
The land around Kidderminster may have been first populated by the [[Husmerae]], an Anglo-Saxon tribe first mentioned in the [[Ismere Diploma]], a document in which Ethelbald of Mercia granted a "parcel of land of ten hides" to Cyneberht.<ref>John Blair, ''The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society'' (New York, [[Oxford University Press]], 2005)</ref> This developed as the settlement of Stour-in-Usmere, which was later the subject of a territorial dispute settled by [[Offa of Mercia]] in 781, when he restored certain rights to [[Bishop Heathored]].<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43103 |title=Kidderminster: Introduction, borough and manors |publisher=[[British History Online]] |access-date=27 August 2017}}</ref> This allowed for the founding of a monastery or {{not a typo|''minstre''}} in the area.

The earliest written form of the name Kidderminster was first documented in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, where it appears as ''Chideminstre'', meaning 'Cydda or Cydela's [[Minster (church)|minster]] or monastery'.<ref>[[Eilert Ekwall]], ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names'', p.275.</ref> It was a large manor held by [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]], with 16 outlying settlements (Bristitune, Fastochesfeld, Franche, Habberley, Hurcott, Mitton, Oldington, Ribbesford, Sudwale, Sutton, Teulesberge, Trimpley, Wannerton and Wribbenhall). Various spellings were in use – ''Kedeleministre'' or ''Kideministre'' (in the 12th and 13th centuries), ''Kyderemunstre'' (13th–15th centuries) – until the name of the town was settled as Kidderminster by the 16th century.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> Between 1156 and 1162 [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] granted the manor to his steward, [[Manasser Biset]]. By six decades later, the settlement grew and a fair (1228) and later a market (1240) were established there.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/>

To the south by the [[River Stour, Worcestershire|River Stour]], dating from the 15th century, is a single surviving tower of [[Caldwall Castle|Caldwall (or Caldwell) Castle]], a fortified manor house.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caldwall Castle |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-156422-caldwall-hall-kidderminster |publisher=[[British Listed Buildings]] |access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> 
[[File:Caldwall (or Caldwell) Tower, Castle Road, Kidderminster (geograph 2328286).jpg|left|thumb|[[Caldwall Castle]]]]
Kidderminster owes its growth to the early development of the [[cloth]] industry, which was aided by its position upon the River Stour, and its location at the confluence of four main roads to [[Birmingham]], [[Dudley]], [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Bewdley]] and [[Bridgnorth]]. In a visit to the town sometime around 1540, King's Antiquary [[John Leland (antiquary)|John Leland]] noted that Kidderminster "standeth most by clothing".<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> Over the following centuries the town specialised in textile trades such as weaving, fulling, cloth working and milling, and was also home to numerous other trades including shoemaking, haberdashery, saddle making, dyers, tailors, tanners and glovers.<ref>Tomkinson and Hall, ''Kidderminster since 1800'', 4.</ref>

King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] granted the [[Ancient borough|Borough]] of Kidderminster a Charter in 1636.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> the original charter can be viewed at Kidderminster Town Hall.

Kidderminster's position at the junction of several main roads made it a place of strategic importance during the [[English Civil War]], with several skirmishes taking place in and around the town.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/>

In 1670&ndash;1 Kidderminster's cloth industry obtained a [[guild]] by act of parliament and by 1677, the town had as many as 459 weavers and perhaps 3,000 spinners.<ref>Kerridge, ''Textile Manufactures in Early Modern England'', 240.</ref> Following [[King Louis XIV]]'s revocation of the [[Edict of Nantes]] in October 1685 and the subsequent renewed persecution of French [[Protestants]] in France, many [[Huguenots]] emigrated to Britain. The immigration and settlement of waves of industrious Huguenots brought the benefits of skilled artisans, merchants and manufacturers to Britain. They contributed to a preexisting but basic cloth weaving industry in towns and cities throughout England, in some cases establishing new businesses. In Worcestershire, the Huguenots established themselves at Worcester, [[Evesham]], [[Droitwich]] and Kidderminster.<ref>Cooke-Taylor, ''Introduction to a History of the Factory System'', 337.</ref>

In the early 18th century, [[carpet]] weaving was introduced to Kidderminster, and this rapidly became the staple trade of the town. Its growth was aided by the opening of the [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]] in 1771, and later the arrival of the [[Kidderminster railway station|railway]] to the town in 1852. The carpet industry went into decline in the 1970s, but still continues on a reduced scale.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/><ref name="KCS">{{cite web |title=A Brief History of Kidderminster |url=http://kidderminstercivicsociety.btck.co.uk/KIDDERMINSTERABRIEFHISTORY |publisher=Kidderminster Civic Society |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref>

Poor trade conditions in 1828, when 2,000 looms were not working for an 18-week period, led to riots where £3,000 of damage was done during one night.{{sfn|MacDonald|1969|p=138}}

[[File:Brintons factory, Kidderminster.jpg|thumb|[[Brintons]] carpet factory in Kidderminster, {{Circa|1870}}]]

The town's local government was reformed by the [[Municipal Reform Act 1835]], which incorporated Kidderminster as a [[municipal borough]]. This superseded the charter of 1636, and divided the borough into three wards represented by six aldermen and eighteen councillors, the number of wards was doubled in the 1880s. The current [[Kidderminster Town Hall|Town Hall]] on Vicar Street was built in 1877.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/>

Kidderminster has two [[Commissioners' church]]es. The first was [[St George's Church, Kidderminster|St George's Church]], on Radford Avenue. This was designed by [[Francis Goodwin (architect)|Francis Goodwin]] and built in 1821–1824,<ref name=pevw>''The Buildings of England: Worcestershire'', [[Nikolaus Pevsner]], 1968 Penguin. p206</ref> finally being consecrated in April 1824. Its grant of just over £17,000.00, was the third-largest given by the commission to any church outside London.<ref name=gil>''[http://nigelgilbert.co.uk/?page_id=54 A History of Kidderminster]'', Nigel Gilbert, 2004, [[The History Press|Phillimore]], {{ISBN|1-8607-7309-5}}. p89 and p102</ref> The second church was [[St John's Church, Kidderminster|St John's Church]], on the Bewdley Road. This was built in 1843 and the architect was [[Matthew Steele]]; its grant was just over £4,000.<ref name="gil"/>

[[The Shrubbery, Kidderminster|The Shrubbery]] was converted into a military headquarters towards the end of the 19th century.<ref name=drill>{{cite web|url=http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Worcestershire/TownKidderminster.htm |title=Kidderminster|publisher=The Drill Hall Project|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref>

In 1974 the old borough of Kidderminster was abolished and merged into the new [[Wyre Forest District]].<ref name="KCS"/> In December 2015 Kidderminster was established as a [[civil parish]] with a new [[parish councils in England|Town Council]], following a public referendum.<ref name="GSTC">{{cite web |title=Kidderminster Town Council |url=https://www.govserv.org/GB/Kidderminster/1391730730909197/Kidderminster-Town-Council |publisher=GovServ |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
The [[River Stour, Worcestershire|River Stour]] and the [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]] both flow through Kidderminster town centre.
{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Destinations from Kidderminster'''
|Northwest = [[Upper Arley|Arley]], [[Highley]], [[Alveley]], [[Bridgnorth]], [[Telford]]
|North     = [[Wolverley]], [[Cookley]], [[Kinver]], [[Enville, Staffordshire|Enville]], '''[[Wolverhampton]]'''
|Northeast = [[Blakedown]], [[Hagley]], '''[[Stourbridge]]''', '''[[Dudley]]''', '''[[Birmingham]]'''
|West      = '''[[Bewdley]]''', '''[[Ludlow]]'''
|Centre    = Kidderminster
|East      = [[Belbroughton]]
|Southwest = [[Tenbury Wells]], '''[[Leominster]]'''
|South     = '''[[Stourport]]''', [[Hartlebury]], '''[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]'''
|Southeast = '''[[Bromsgrove]]''', '''[[Droitwich]]'''
}}

==Economy==
The modern carpet industry was founded in the area in 1785 by [[Brintons]]. The carpet industry became extremely important to the local economy, so much so that the local newspaper is still named ''[[Kidderminster Shuttle|The Shuttle]]'' after the shuttles used on the carpet [[loom]]s.<ref name=MapAddict>{{cite book|last=Parker|first=Mike|title=Map Addict|year=2010|publisher=Collins|location=London|isbn=978-0-00-735157-2|page=17}}</ref> A type of carpet was known as '''Kidderminster carpet''' or, in the United States, '''Ingrain carpet''': this was a reversible carpet with no pile, with the pattern showing in opposite colours on the two faces, and was popular from the 18th to early 20th centuries.<ref name="burrows">{{cite web |title=A Brief History of English Carpets/Stourvale Mill |url=http://www.burrows.com/hist.html |website=www.burrows.com |access-date=11 September 2020}}</ref> By 1951 there were over thirty carpet manufacturers in the town,<ref name="Shuttle">{{cite news
|url=http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/8347419.Wyre_Forest_carpet_industry_doyen_retires_at_80/
|title=Wyre Forest carpet industry doyen retires at 80
|date=24 August 2010
|work=The Shuttle
|publisher=Newsquest (Midlands South) Ltd
|access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref> including, for example, Quayle & Tranter (now defunct). They commissioned such notable artists as [[George Bain (artist)|George Bain]] to create their traditional Celtic designs.<ref name="Christie">{{cite web
|url=http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/george-bain-for-quayle-and-tranter-hunting-4860730-details.aspx?intObjectID=4860730
|title=GEORGE BAIN FOR QUAYLE AND TRANTER
|publisher=Christie's
|access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="Bonhams">{{cite web
|url=http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19868/lot/542/
|title=George Bain, A Celtic pattern hunting rug
|publisher=Bonhams
|access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref>
Aided by a 2004 grant from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]], a [[Museum of Carpet|museum]] dedicated to the Kidderminster carpet industry was officially opened by [[Christopher Charles Lyttelton, 12th Viscount Cobham|Lord Cobham]] in 2012.<ref name="CarpetMuseum">{{cite web
 |url         = http://81.136.227.1/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Index.tcl
 |title       = Carpet Museum
 |publisher   = The Carpet Museum Trust
 |access-date  = 15 October 2013
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131015024402/http://81.136.227.1/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Index.tcl
 |archive-date = 15 October 2013}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{Update|section|date=January 2022}}
Kidderminster Town is a [[civil parish]] within [[Wyre Forest District]], with Kidderminster Town Council created in the early 21st century to take on the duties of a [[Parish councils in England|parish council]], following a referendum in May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/the-council/creating-kidderminster-town-council.aspx |title=Creating Kidderminster Town Council |publisher=Wyreforestdc.gov.uk |access-date=27 August 2017}}</ref> Prior to this, [[Charter Trustees]] maintained the traditions of the town and elected a Mayor. At the [[2019 Wyre Forest District Council election|2019 local elections]] to Wyre Forest District Council, the [[Conservatives (UK)|Conservatives]] lost their majority and the council was taken over by a 'Progressive Alliance' formed of independents and councillors from other parties. However, in May 2022 [[Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern|Health Concern]] announced they would not be standing at the next election, instead favouring a unified independent offering. At the [[2023 Wyre Forest District Council election|following election in 2023]] the [[Conservatives (UK)|Conservatives]] regained majority control after a collapse in the independent and former Health Concern vote, one of only two council gains nationally.

The area (initially as [[Kidderminster (UK Parliament constituency)|Kidderminster]], then after 1983 as the [[Wyre Forest (UK Parliament constituency)|Wyre Forest constituency]]) has been represented by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) [[Gerald Nabarro]] 1950–1964, [[Tatton Brinton]] 1964–1974, [[Esmond Bulmer]] 1974–1987, [[Anthony Coombs (politician)|Anthony Coombs]] 1987–1997, and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] [[David Lock]] 1997–2001. In the [[2001 United Kingdom general election]], the town returned Dr [[Richard Taylor (British politician)|Richard Taylor]] as an independent [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for the Wyre Forest parliamentary constituency. Taylor had fought the election to protest against the proposed reduction in services at [[Kidderminster Hospital]]. He held his seat at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 election]], the first independent MP to do so since 1949.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Taylor in contention to be new Speaker
  | last = Blanchard
  | first = Jack
  | newspaper = [[Worcester News]]
  | date = 19 May 2009
| url = http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/4380738.Taylor_in_contention_to_be_new_Speaker
  | access-date = 26 January 2010}}
</ref> [[Mark Garnier]] has held the seat of [[Wyre Forest (UK Parliament constituency)|Wyre Forest]] since the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 election]] increasing his majority each time until the 2024 general election, which saw a Conservative majority of just 812 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/f34.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Wyre Forest|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14001058|title=Wyre Forest parliamentary constituency – Election 2019|access-date=17 January 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Demographics==
At the 2011 census there were 55,530 residents in Kidderminster in 24,869 households, the median age of Kidderminster residents was 41.<ref name=2011census>{{NOMIS2011|id=1119883718|title=Kidderminster Built-up area|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

Kidderminster's population at the 2011 census was predominantly [[White people|White]] (96.8%). The largest non-white groups were [[British Asian|Asian]] at 1.7%, and [[mixed race]] at 1.2%.<ref name=2011census/>

67% of Kidderminster residents identified as [[Christianity|Christian]], with 24.7% stating they had [[irreligion|no religion]], and 6.6% not stating any religion. The largest non-Christian group were [[Muslims]] at 0.8%, followed by [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] at 0.2% and [[Hindus]] and [[Sikhs]] at 0.1% each, with others at 0.4%.<ref name=2011census/>

==Architecture and landmarks==
[[File:St John the Baptist Church, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 499492.jpg|thumb|St John the Baptist's Church (Church of England), built in 1843]]
Kidderminster's parish church of [[St Mary and All Saints' Church, Kidderminster|St Mary and All Saints']] is a [[grade I listed]] building dating mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints|num=1100050|access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref> Another notable church is [[St John's Church, Kidderminster|St John's Church]], which is grade II listed, and dates from 1843.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Church of St John the Baptist|num=1391383|access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref> Other listed buildings of note in the town include the [[Kidderminster Town Hall|Town Hall]] of 1877. [[The Shrubbery, Kidderminster|The Shrubbery]], a 19th-century mansion, and the [[Kidderminster Register Office]]. Many of Kidderminster's historic buildings were lost from the 1960s onwards, this led to the creation of the Kidderminster Civic Society in 1993 to promote preservation of the town's heritage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Buildings and Streets |url=http://kidderminstercivicsociety.btck.co.uk/SELECTEDHISTORICBUILDINGANDSTREETS |publisher=Kidderminster Civic Society |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Slingfield Mill on Weavers Wharf in Kidderminster, Worcestershire - geograph.org.uk - 3986264.jpg|thumb|The former Slingfield Mill]]
There are some former factory buildings of note in Kidderminster, which have mostly been converted to other uses. A notable one is the former Slingfield Mill, dating from 1864 to 1870, which is grade II listed, and has been converted for retail use.<ref>{{NHLE |desc=SLINGFIELD MILLS, MAIN BLOCK |num=1348613 |access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref>

In the 1968 ''[[Buildings of England]]'' volume on Worcestershire, [[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner]] described the town as: "uncommonly devoid of visual pleasure and architectural interest."{{sfn|Pevsner 1968|p=203}} Crown House, an early 1970s office block was particularly criticised, and was once rated among the top 10 ugliest buildings in Britain. Demolition was completed in April 2020, improving the Kidderminster skyline.<ref>{{cite news |title=Demolition of Kidderminster eyesore Crown House completed |url=https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/18364755.demolition-kidderminster-eyesore-crown-house-completed/ |work=Kidderminster Shuttle |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=7 April 2020}}</ref> In the 2007 revision of this volume, Alan Brooks wrote: "the 19th century mill buildings, together with the churches, provide most of the architectural interest in a town otherwise uncommonly lacking in visual pleasures."{{sfn|Brooks & Pevsner 2007|p=395}}

==Transport==
;Rail
Two railway stations in the town share the same approach road and are located less than fifty metres apart. The main [[National Rail]] station, operated by [[West Midlands Trains]], is [[Kidderminster railway station|Kidderminster]], from where trains run to [[Birmingham]] and [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. The other station, [[Kidderminster Town railway station|Kidderminster Town]], is the terminus of the preserved Heritage Railway line, [[Severn Valley Railway]], from where trains run to [[Bridgnorth]].

;Road
Several major routes run through the town, including the [[A456 road|A456]] which runs from Birmingham to just south of [[Woofferton]], [[Shropshire]]; the [[A451 road|A451]] which runs from Stourbridge to [[Abberley]]; the [[A442 road|A442]] which runs from [[Droitwich]] to [[Hodnet]], Shropshire (a few miles north of [[Telford]]); the [[A449 road|A449]] which runs from [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] in south Wales to [[Stafford]] and crosses the A456 at the Land Oak; and the [[A448 road]] which starts in the town and goes to [[Studley, Warwickshire|Studley]] in [[Warwickshire]], via [[Bromsgrove]] and [[Redditch]]. A major change in the town centre road infrastructure was the construction of the ring road in the 1970s and 1980s. This relieved the town's growing congestion but diverted traffic outside the centre, drawing off customers for businesses. The final phase of the ring road was never completed, which results in the town having a ring road that does not form a complete ring.

The nearest motorway is the [[M5 motorway|M5]], which signs Kidderminster from junction 3 ([[Halesowen]]) with the A456, and junction 6 (Worcester North) with the A449.

;Waterways
[[File:Kiddenminster - panoramio (5).jpg|thumb|St Mary's and All Saints Parish Church, seen from the [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]]]]
The [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]] passes through the town.

;Bus
There are direct bus links with towns including [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Halesowen]], [[Bewdley]], [[Stourport-on-Severn|Stourport]], [[Bridgnorth]], [[Bromsgrove]] and [[Redditch]]. The majority of the services in Kidderminster are operated by [[Diamond West Midlands]] (previously [[First Midland Red]]) while the rest is operated by Select Bus Services  (297), Finesse and Yarranton Brothers. Services 291 and 292 were operated by R & B Travel prior to the company surrendering its licence in January 2020.
Services 15A/C, S15, 294, 580 and 133were operated by Coniston Coaches prior to surrendering its licence in October 2020.
15A/C, S15 & 294 were passed onto Astons until 2021 and 2022. Service 297 was operated by Arriva Midlands until 4 September 2023 when Select won the contract for the service.

[[Diamond West Midlands|Diamond Bus]] service 125 connects Kidderminster to [[Bridgnorth]] while service 25A connects Kidderminster with [[Dudley]] via [[Stourbridge]] and the [[Merry Hill Centre]].

==Education==
As part of educational restructuring in the [[Wyre Forest (district)|Wyre Forest district]], Kidderminster's schools were reorganised from a [[three-tier education|three-tier system]] of first, middle and high schools to the two-tier system more common in the UK as a whole, featuring [[primary school]]s and [[secondary school]]s. In this process, several first and middle schools were closed or merged into new primaries. The three high schools of [[King Charles I School]], [[Wolverley C E Secondary School]], and [[Baxter College]] (formerly Harry Cheshire High School) became secondary schools that included [[sixth form]]s.

Independent schools include [[Heathfield Knoll School]] in [[Wolverley]]. Formerly independent, [[Holy Trinity School (Kidderminster)|Holy Trinity School]] became a state-funded free school in 2014. [[Kidderminster College]] is located in Market Street in the town centre, having moved from older premises in Hoo Road in 2003. Other local secondary schools include [[The Stourport High School & VIth Form Centre]] and [[The Bewdley School]].

==Sport==

===Cricket===
[[Kidderminster Cricket Club|Kidderminster CC]] is a local [[cricket]] club at whose home ground of [[Chester Road North Ground, Kidderminster|Chester Road North Ground]] [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club]] play occasional [[County Championship]] and county 2nd XI games.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/57078.html | title=England Cricket Grounds: Kidderminster | publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]| access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref>

===Football===
[[File:Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1555812.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Aggborough]] is the home ground of the professional club [[Kidderminster Harriers]], formerly of the [[English Football League|Football League]].]]
Formed in 1886, [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.]] is the town's professional [[football (soccer)|football]] club. Local rivals of the Harriers were traditionally [[Worcester City]] and [[Bromsgrove Rovers]], and in recent years also [[Cheltenham Town]] and [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]]. As of 2023 Cheltenham are in [[EFL League One|League One]], two divisions above Kidderminster, with Hereford being the division below Kidderminster.

In 2005 the Harriers were relegated to the [[Conference Premier]] after five years in the [[Football League Two]] division. They had reached the Football League as Conference champions in 2000, and are Worcestershire's only representative in the league. They had won the title in 1994 but were denied promotion then as their stadium did not meet Football League capacity requirements. That same year they eliminated [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] from the [[FA Cup]]; they eventually reached the fifth round of the competition (just missing the quarter-finals), where they hosted [[Premier League]] side [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], narrowly losing 0–1. Prior to [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City's]] run in the competition in 2017, Harriers were the last non-league side to reach round five of the FA Cup. Harriers were relegated to the [[National League North]] in 2016.

In recent years, Kidderminster have seen some success under manager and former Harriers player [[Russell Penn]]. A strong FA Cup run in the 2021–2022 season led to the Harriers facing Premier League side West Ham in, as they had done in 1994. The affair ended in a 1–2 defeat, yet the game led to major economic benefit for the club, with TV money and ticket sales generating large amounts of income. Harriers further went into the Play-Offs that same season, but were eliminated in their first game to [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]]. In the 2022–2023 season, Kidderminster again reached the Play-Offs, achieving the feat on the last game of the season after an excellent late run of league form. Harriers beat [[Alfreton Town F.C.|Alfreton]], [[King's Lynn Town F.C.|Kings Lynn]] and finally [[Brackley Town F.C.|Brackley]] in the Play-Offs and regained promotion to the [[National League (English football)|National League]].

The [[Kidderminster & District League]] has operated since 1984 and draws teams from [[Worcestershire]] and [[South Staffordshire]].

===Rugby===
Kidderminster Carolians RFC is a local [[rugby union]] club, currently playing at level 7 in Counties 1 Midlands West (North) at First XV Level and Counties 4 Midlands West (South) at 2nd XV level.

Regularly putting out three senior teams including veterans, the club also has a thriving Colts (U18s) age group, a developing women's team since 2021, and a large minis and juniors section.

===Hockey===
Kidderminster Hockey Club was founded in 1892. By 2010, there were five men's [[field hockey|hockey]] teams, a women's team and a junior team. The club was dissolved in 2022.

==Local attractions==
Located in Kidderminster is the [[Severn Valley Railway]] a [[heritage railway]]. The [[Museum of Carpet]], opened in 2012, showcases the town's contribution to the carpet industry.<ref name="KCS"/> Brinton Park is an [[urban park]] to the south of the town centre, comprising {{convert|30|acre}} of land donated by [[John Brinton]] in the 1880s.<ref name="Craztor">{{cite web |title=15 Best Things to Do in Kidderminster (Worcestershire, England) |date=24 January 2019 |url=https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-to-do-in-kidderminster-worcestershire-england/ |publisher=The Crazy Tourist |access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref> Another green space is [[Wilden Marsh]], a nature reserve covering {{convert|94|acre}} to the south of Kidderminster.

Places of interest near Kidderminster include the [[West Midlands Safari Park]] to the west of Kidderminster towards [[Bewdley]]. A few miles south of the town is [[Hartlebury Castle]], which houses the [[Worcestershire County Museum]]. A few miles north are the [[Drakelow Tunnels]], a former underground military complex, which has an attached museum.<ref name="Craztor"/>

==Local media==
The local newspapers covering Kidderminster are ''[[The Shuttle (newspaper)|The Shuttle]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk |publisher=Kidderminster Shuttle |title=The Shuttle |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> and the ''Kidderminster Standard''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kidderminsterstandard.co.uk/ |publisher=Kidderminster Standard |title=The Kidderminster Standard |access-date=16 March 2025}}</ref>

Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] and local relay transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sutton_Coldfield|title=Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=25 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Kidderminster|title=Freeview Light on the Kidderminster (Worcestershire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=25 September 2023}}</ref>

[[The Wyre|107.2 The Wyre]] was the town's first local commercial radio station; it began broadcasting on 12 September 2005 from studios in Kidderminster, and was closed in 2012. Other radio stations providing local coverage are [[Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]], [[Sunshine Radio (Herefordshire and Monmouthshire)|Sunshine Radio]] and [[BBC Hereford & Worcester]]. Signal 107 was launched on 26 March 2012; it now broadcasts as Greatest Hits Radio Hereford & Worcester.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16930780 | work=BBC News | title=The Wolf, the Severn and the Wyre to merge as signal 107 | date=7 February 2012}}</ref>

==Climate==
The town is noted for its particularly high record lows. Despite an average July low of 11.7&nbsp;°C,<ref name = metoffice /> the temperature has never fallen below 5&nbsp;°C in that month. The coldest and warmest July nights were both recorded in 2015.<ref name = extremes />
{{Weather box	
|location = Kidderminster
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes	
|Jan record high C= 18.0
|Feb record high C= 19.6
|Mar record high C= 25.0
|Apr record high C= 26.6
|May record high C= 28.2
|Jun record high C= 32.0
|Jul record high C= 34.6
|Aug record high C= 32.0
|Sep record high C= 27.6 
|Oct record high C= 27.0
|Nov record high C= 18.0
|Dec record high C= 19.1
|year record high C= 34.6
|Jan high C = 6.8
|Feb high C = 7.4
|Mar high C = 10.2
|Apr high C = 13.3
|May high C = 16.8
|Jun high C = 19.5
|Jul high C = 21.8
|Aug high C = 21.4
|Sep high C = 18.3
|Oct high C = 14.0
|Nov high C = 9.7
|Dec high C = 7.0
|year high C = 
|Jan low C = 1.3
|Feb low C = 0.8
|Mar low C = 2.7
|Apr low C = 3.9
|May low C = 6.7
|Jun low C = 9.7
|Jul low C = 11.7
|Aug low C = 11.6
|Sep low C = 9.5
|Oct low C = 6.7
|Nov low C = 3.7
|Dec low C = 1.5
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C= -8.0
|Feb record low C= -11.9
|Mar record low C= -7.0
|Apr record low C= -3.0
|May record low C= 0.0
|Jun record low C= 2.0
|Jul record low C= 5.0
|Aug record low C= 6.0
|Sep record low C= -6.0
|Oct record low C= -3.0
|Nov record low C= -7.0
|Dec record low C= -10.1	
|year record low C= -11.9
|unit rain days= 1.0 mm
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 65.6
|Feb rain mm = 46.1
|Mar rain mm = 53.1
|Apr rain mm = 62.0
|May rain mm = 56.7
|Jun rain mm = 59.1
|Jul rain mm = 54.8
|Aug rain mm = 64.4
|Sep rain mm = 62.9
|Oct rain mm = 80.8
|Nov rain mm = 72.4
|Dec rain mm = 73.3
|year rain mm= 
|Jan rain days = 12.5
|Feb rain days = 9.6
|Mar rain days = 11.0
|Apr rain days = 10.5
|May rain days = 10.4
|Jun rain days = 9.7
|Jul rain days = 9.4
|Aug rain days = 9.8
|Sep rain days = 9.6
|Oct rain days = 12.0
|Nov rain days = 12.0
|Dec rain days = 11.8
|year rain days= 
|Jan sun = 53.4
|Feb sun = 73.6
|Mar sun = 109.2
|Apr sun = 151.6
|May sun = 190.8
|Jun sun = 191.3
|Jul sun = 200.7
|Aug sun = 186.0
|Sep sun = 140.4
|Oct sun = 107.1
|Nov sun = 62.4
|Dec sun = 46.7
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name = metoffice>{{cite web| url = http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcq3ux6rd| title = Kidderminster Climate Period: 1981–2010| publisher = [[Met Office]]| access-date = 6 October 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = MyWeather2.com<ref name = extremes>{{cite web|title=Kidderminster Historic Weather Averages in United Kingdom|url=http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/United-Kingdom/Hereford-and-Worcester/Kidderminster/climate-profile.aspx|publisher=Weather2|access-date=8 August 2017|language=en}}</ref>
|date=8 August 2017
}}

==Notable residents==
[[File:Statue of Richard Baxter.jpg|alt=A statue of Richard Baxter in Kidderminster outside St Mary and All Saints' Church.|thumb|304x304px|A statue of Richard Baxter in Kidderminster outside St Mary and All Saints' Church.]]<!-- Keep in alphabetical order by surname -->
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2022}}
* [[Richard Baxter]], [[Puritan]] minister. He began his ministry in Kidderminster in April 1641 and served there for the next 19 years. A memorial statue of him was erected outside St Mary's parish church, where he was based. The inscription states his wish "for unity and comprehension in religion". Prior to beginning his ministry in Kidderminster, Baxter lived in [[Bridgnorth]] from 1640 to 1641.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
* [[Mark Birch (musician)|Mark Birch]], former guitarist with [[Wishbone Ash]], was born and brought up in Kidderminster.
* [[Edward Bradley (writer)|Edward Bradley]], the English humorist of the mid-Victorian era, was born in Kidderminster in 1827.
* [[Lant Carpenter]], English educator and Unitarian minister, was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Gilbert Claughton]], Chairman of the [[London North Western Railway]].
* [[Noah Cooke]], poet, was born in the town.
* [[Sammi Davis]], film actress, was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Tony De Vit]], Birmingham-based nightclub DJ and singer, was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Alun Evans]], English football's first £100,000 teenager, was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Richard Eve]], Grand Treasurer of the [[United Grand Lodge of England]] in 1889, was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley (1716–1777)|Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley]], [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Droitwich]] and [[Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Herefordshire]], created ''Baron Foley, of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester'' in 1776.
* [[Paul Frampton]], theoretical physicist, was born in Kidderminster and educated at King Charles I School.
* [[Ukawsaw Gronniosaw]], also known as James Albert, lived with his family in the town in the 1760s and 1770s. An African prince and freed slave, he worked on his autobiography in Kidderminster, with a secretary from [[Leominster]]. Published at [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] in about 1772, this was considered the first Black African autobiography published in Britain.
* [[Robert Hamer]], [[film director]] and [[screenwriter]], known for his 1949 comedy ''[[Kind Hearts and Coronets]]'', starring [[Dennis Price]] and [[Alec Guinness]], was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Jowe Head]] (born as Joe Hendon in Kidderminster) is a bass guitarist, singer and visual artist, and was a member of [[Swell Maps]] before joining the [[Television Personalities]].
* [[Rowland Hill (postal reformer)|Sir Rowland Hill]], the inventor of the [[Penny Black]] and the modern postal system, was born in Blackwell Street. There is a statue, sculpted by [[Thomas Brock|Sir Thomas Brock]],<ref>[http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/BM/WOwfKIxx002.htm Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716182357/http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/BM/WOwfKIxx002.htm |date=16 July 2011 }}</ref> to him in Vicar Street outside the town hall. There was a pub in the Bull Ring called ''The Penny Black'' in his honour.
* [[Henry Eliot Howard]], director of a steelwork in Worcester, and amateur ornithologist, was born at Stone House near Kidderminster.
* [[Eustace Jotham]] served as a British Army captain in the Great War, winning the [[Victoria Cross]] in 1915; he was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Walter W. Law]] was born in Kidderminster to a carpet dealer, and worked as a carpet manufacturer. He later emigrated to the United States, where he founded [[Briarcliff Manor, New York]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cheever|first=Mary|title=The Changing Landscape: A History of Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough|year=1990|publisher=Phoenix Publishing|location=West Kennebunk, Maine|isbn=0-914659-49-9|oclc=22274920|lccn=90045613|ol=1884671M}}</ref>
* [[Iskra Lawrence]], model, grew up in Kidderminster.
* [[Rustie Lee]], TV personality and celebrity chef, used to live on the outskirts of the town.
* [[Josiah Mason|Sir Josiah Mason]], an English pen-manufacturer, was born in the town's Mill Street.
* [[Walter Nash]], former Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, was born in the town.
* [[James O'Brien (radio presenter)|James O'Brien]], radio talk show host of LBC and journalist, was brought up in Kidderminster.
* [[Job Orton]], English dissenting minister, lived in Kidderminster in retirement from 1766 until his death.
* [[Taylor Parkes]], journalist and broadcaster, was born in West Bromwich but grew up in Kidderminster.
* [[Ewan Pearson]], DJ and record producer, grew up in Kidderminster.
* [[Robert Plant]], English musician who was the front man of the 1970s English rock band [[Led Zeppelin]], grew up in Kidderminster and has had associations with [[Kidderminster College]].
* [[Stuart Matthew Price]], singer and composer, was born in the town.
* [[Jess Roden]], singer, was born in Kidderminster.
* [[Mike Sanchez]], [[rhythm and blues]] pianist and vocalist, is a long-time resident of Kidderminster.
* [[Sir Herbert Smith, 1st Baronet]], Kidderminster carpet manufacturer and owner of [[Witley Court]] (see [[Smith baronets#Smith of Kidderminster, Worcs (30 June 1920)|Smith of Kidderminster baronets]]).
* [[Alf Tabb]], Kidderminster cycle maker and rider of miniature cycles.
* [[Richard_Taylor_(British_politician)|Dr Richard Taylor]] was an independent [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Wyre Forest]], serving from 2001 to 2010. He originally trained as a medical doctor, working as a consultant at [[Kidderminster Hospital|Kidderminster General Hospital]] from 1972 to 1995. He was also co-leader of the National Health Action Party.
* [[Tom Watson (Labour politician)|Tom Watson]] is a former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[West Bromwich East (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich East]] and Deputy Leader of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. He was educated at [[King Charles I School|King Charles I High School]] in Kidderminster.
* [[Stan Webb (guitarist)|Stan Webb]], blues guitarist and founder of [[Chicken Shack]], resides in the town.
* [[John Francis Young]] served as a soldier in the First World War and won the [[Victoria Cross]] as a private in 1918; he was born in Kidderminster.

===Sport===
* [[Mo Anthoine]] was born and brought up on Marlpool Lane in Kidderminster. He was a mountain climber famed for his technical skill.
* [[Peter Collins (racing driver)|Peter Collins]], former [[Formula One]] driver, was born in Kidderminster. During his career, Collins drove for the [[Hersham and Walton Motors|HWM]], [[Vanwall]], [[Maserati in motorsport|Maserati]] and [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] teams and won 3 of his 33 Grands Prix. His promising career was cut short during the [[1958 German Grand Prix]], when Collins spun off the track and sustained a fatal head injury in the accident that followed.
* [[Kevin Keelan]], footballer, played for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].
* [[Melissa Lawley]], [[Liverpool F.C. Women]] Forward, who signed for the club in 2019.
* [[Ernest Perry (cricketer)|Ernest Perry]], first-class cricketer, died in Kidderminster.
* [[John Wyer]] was born in Kidderminster; he went on to manage repeat victories at [[Le Mans 24 hours]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Burton |first=John Richard |year=1890 |title=A history of Kidderminster, with short accounts of some neighbouring parishes |location=London |publisher=E. Stock |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofkidderm00burt}}
*{{Citation |last1=MacDonald |first1=Alec |date=1969 |title=Worcestershire in English History |publisher=SR Publishers |location=London |isbn=978-0854095759 |orig-year=1943 |edition=Reprint}}
* {{cite book
 |last = Pevsner|first = Nikolaus
 |year = 1968
 |title = The Buildings of England: Worcestershire
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YR7qAAAAMAAJ&q=the+buildings+of+england+worcestershire
 |publisher = Penguin
 |ref = {{sfnRef|Pevsner 1968}}
}}
* {{cite book
 |last1 = Brooks |first1 = Alan
 |last2 = Pevsner|first2 = Nikolaus
 |year = 2007
 |title = The Buildings of England: Worcestershire
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3sG9568rRJsC&q=the+buildings+of+england+worcestershire
 |publisher = Yale University Press
 |isbn = 978-0-300-11298-6
 |ref = {{sfnRef|Brooks & Pevsner 2007}}
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kidderminster}}
* [http://www.kidderminstertowncouncil.gov.uk Kidderminster Town Council]
* [http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Kidderminster/ Kidderminster Workhouse]

{{Worcestershire}}
{{Wyre Forest}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kidderminster| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Worcestershire]]