Situated approximately halfway between Worcester and Birmingham Bromsgrove has risen from humble beginnings to a thriving town with a population of around 30000. From at least the 5th Century there was a settlement on the hill where the present Parish Church now stands overlooking the old Roman Road from Droitwich to the North Midlands. The first documented mention of Bromsgrove is in the 9th century and the Domesday Book gives mention of a Royal Manor. In these early days Market Gardening the woodlands provided the basis for the local economy Bromsgrove was also a major centre for the Wool industry until its decline in the 16th century. The Industrial Revolution brought manufacturing to the area and in the 17th century the French Huguenots introduced Nail Making turning Bromsgrove into the nail making capital of the world other industries included Wrought Ironwork forging and Button making. In 1841 the Birmingham to Gloucester Railway opened a maintenance works where the odd locomotive was also built the works was a major employer in the town until its closure in 1964. Bromsgrove has the distinction of being at the base of the steepest gradient to be found in the main line in Britain at just over two miles at 1 in 37. Some of the most powerful steam locomotives in Britain were employed to assist heavy freight trains to the top of this gradient.

Bromsgrove has a rich heritage of architecture. The Parish Church of St.John stands on the site of a Saxon church which was rebuilt by the Normans major rebuilding was undertaken in the 19th century under the direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott but retains some 13th 14th century features. St.Peters Roman Catholic Church was built by Gilbert Bount in 1818. Bromsgrove Baptist Church founded in 1666 by John Eckles has had at least 7 different buildings the present and third on the New Road site was opened in 1990. There are several halftimbered buildings in the town including the Hop Pole Inn built 1572. The old Parish Workhouse of built in 1723 which still survives as offices to be found in the Strand this was replaced by the Bromsgrove Union Workhouse on the Birmingham Road which opened 1838 and closed only in 1948 these have also been converted into offices! Other buildings of note in the area include Grafton Manor which can be dated back to the 13th century Hagley Hall commissioned in 1756 by the first Lord Lyttleton and is the last great Palladian style building to be built in England Hanbury Hall built in 1701. Perry Hall now a Hotel was the home of A.E.Houseman (author of A Shropshire Lad) whos statue now stands in the High Street.

The Bromsgrove Museum is housed in the former coach house of Davenal House built in 1780 contains many exhibits portraying local history including works by the Bromsgrove Guild. Founded in 1884 by William Gilbert as the Guild of Applied Art a company of craftsmen working in the Arts and Grafts style they produced many fine works of art and sculpture including the gates to Buckingham Palace. The Avoncraft Museum of Building has a collection of early buildings from all over the Midlands and also houses the National Telephone Kiosk Collection.