This walking tour of Stourbridge will be led by Andy Foster and David Low and will highlight some of the town’s significant Victorian buildings. We hope to include the closed church of St John the Evangelist (G.E. Street, Grade II, 1861)
Stourbridge Glass Museum is housed in the former Grade I Stuart Crystal Works. Opened in April 2022 it was previously based at Broadfield House. It is now situated in the heart of the Glass Quarter, the home of glassmaking for 400 years. The collection contains pieces from Roman times to the present day but has a particular emphasis on those from the 19th century golden age of glassmaking in this area.
On the site across the road is the only remaining glass cone (Grade I, being totally restored) as well as buildings and evidence of the importance of the canal to the glass industry.
9am start at St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston, B16 9JN (Buses 9 or 126 from Colmore Row or Broad Street to Westfield Road.) There is free road parking by the church. For this trip we will be using a single decker, former Birmingham Corporation bus, which has no seat belts fitted.
The group will be divided into two. One group will start with the walking tour and then visit the Glass Museum in the afternoon whilst the other group will start with the Glass Museum and then the walk in the afternoon.
Everyone will have morning refreshments in the town, and a buffet lunch at the Museum.
