With a population in excess of 55000 Kidderminster is the largest of the Wyre Forest Towns lying about 4 miles (6.5km) north east of both Bewdley and Stourbridge straddling the River Stour. Named StourinUsmere in 736 it was gifted to the a local chieftain called Cyneberght by King Aethelbald it passed through he hands of the Bishop of Worcester and then to Cenwulf King of Mercia in 816. Called by the Saxons Chiderminster (the Saxon Chid means Hill and Dur is water) the Minster part of the name indicates that there was a church Minsters were Mother Churches. As with so many other places named in the Domesday Book (1086) it lost something in translation and was recorded as KIdderminster. It remained a royal manor until King Henry II gave it to the Bassett family.

Cloth making was first mentioned in 1334 and in 1735 carpet manufacture began to replace woollen goods so much so the Kidderminster is now one of the biggest producers of carpets in the Britain. The upturn in the industry so far as Kidderminster is concerned was in 1785 when William Brinton opened his first factory in the town Brintons are still employ several hundred people and are the biggest employer in the town. Helped by its central location and with an expanding canal system the Staffordshire Worcester Canal runs through the centre of town and with new machinery and working practises the industry rapidly developed with several firms involved in carpet making. The 1970s brought a downturn in fortunes with cheaper foreign imports and rising costs but the industry still maintains a strong presents in the town. Kidderminsters Carpet Museum charts the history of carpet making from ancient times up to the present day. The old commercial area of Weavers Wharf has been redeveloped in recent years and the Grade II listed Springfield Mill has been converted into shops etc. as part of the development.

Kidderminster was the birthplace of Sir Rowland born in 1795 who developed the modern postal system and is most famous for inventing the Penny Black postage stamp. There is a statue of him outside the Town Hall. Another notable citizen was the Puritan minister who began his ministry in Kidderminister in 1641 he preached for unity among the Protestant churches. The racing driver Peter Collins was born in the town in 1931 he was one of Britians greatest Formula One drivers. Kidderminster has a great wealth of Georgan and Victorian buildings but also as the Weavers Wharf development shows has its feet very much in the present.