AN interactive map has been launched to give Bromsgrove residents easy access to the town’s history.

The map, which is available on the Better Bromsgrove website, is intended to provide a fun, interactive way to research the history of the high street and surrounding areas by letting people click on a 19th century map of the area.

The 1880s Ordnance Survey map of Bromsgrove has been digitised for the project, with key buildings highlighted. When people click on a highlighted area, they can look at details of the buildings concerned, as they were, and as they are now, as well as listening to clips of oral history from the area.

Councillor Rita Dent, whose portfolio covers the High Street, said: “I think this is a fantastic way of showing off the history of our town centre and now anyone can access it whether they’re at home on a computer or actually walking down the high street. It will really help bring history to life.”

Derek Hurst, project manager with Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, added: “Lots of hard work has gone in to making the map and a number of THI partners have had input to make sure it’s as accurate as possible. We think it is a brilliant tool and could be useful for schools, historians or anyone generally interested in finding out a bit more about the history of the town.”

The interactive map was created as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), a partnership between Bromsgrove District Council and Worcestershire County Council, as well as representatives from Avoncroft Musem, the Victorian Society, the Bromsgrove Society, Artrix, Bromsgrove Library, the Housman Society and Bromsgrove School, with heritage work supported by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The map can be viewed at betterbromsgrove.com/living-in-bromsgrove/culture-and-heritage/bromsgrove-heritage-map

The Oral history of ‘Bromsgrove – People and Places’ can be found at the ‘Bromsgrove Past & Present’ Facebook pages.