Bromsgrove

 town, place with historical importance, borough

Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England. The town is about 16 miles (26 km) north east of Worcester and 13 miles (21 km) south west of Birmingham city centre. It had a population of 29,237 in 2001 (39,644 in the wider Bromsgrove/Catshill urban area) with a small ethnic minority and is in Bromsgrove District. The outline map above illustrates the size and location of the Borough in relation to the wider district.

Bromsgrove is first documented in the early 9th century as Bremesgraf. Later in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 909 A.D. Bromsgrove is mentioned as Bremesburh. Then in the Domesday Book Bromsgrove is referenced as Bremesgrave. The Breme part of the place name is almost certainly a Saxon personal name. Bromsgrove is home to Grafton Manor which dates back to the 13th century. It has a rich history, with some historians believing it to be involved in the gunpowder plot.

Bromsgrove is also home to Bromsgrove School, a co-educational independent school founded in 1553 with three campuses catering for pupils from nursery to sixth-form that offers boarding facilities. Former pupils include Digby Jones, head of the CBI for many years, and the actors Ian Carmichael , Richard Wattis and Trevor Eve.

Manufacturing, retail, and services were the biggest sectors of employment in 2001. MG Rover was a major employer of Bromsgrove residents until its collapse in May 2005. Bromsgrove is still home to LG Harris Ltd, a paint brush manufacturer.(Known locally as "Harris Brush" or just "The Brush"). Business parks in Aston Fields and Buntsford Hill are helping to revitalise the local economy, in addition to newer developments such as Saxon and Harris Business Parks. Bromsgrove District Council is aiming to create a technology corridor along the A38 to take advantage of the area's road links.

www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/cms/default.aspx
www.bromsgrovetown.com/

for more on the history of Bromsgrove see @:
www.bromsgroveonline.com/bromsgrove-local-history.html

for on-line large-scale detailed interactice map on Worcestershire C.C. website (used to draw attached polygon) see @:
gis.worcestershire.gov.uk/wccgisonline/maps.aspx?mlapc=...