KIDDERMINSTER’s Museum of Carpet welcomed local author Sally Dickson to launch her new book – Great War Britain: Kidderminster Remembering 1914-18.

The book, written as a result of a two-year research project carried out by members of the Kidderminster and District Archaeological and Historical Society, forms a key part of a combined exhibition and short talk programme taking place at the museum.

The In the Firing Line exhibition is designed to explore the impact of the First World War on Kidderminster, the town’s industry, and its people and also features stories from war-time copies of The Shuttle.

Jodie Edwards, museum manager, said: “The museum has copies of The Shuttle dating back to the 1870s and this is a wonderful archive for anyone researching the history of Kidderminster.

“Sally and the team spent many hours poring over back copies and have uncovered many things that most of us have overlooked or forgotten.

“This book reminds us that, even today, the impact of the First World War is all around us.”

Stories uncovered during the research will be shared at four Focus Talks, with the first, on Friday, November 7, focusing on the call to arms by looking at what happened in the early days of the war when every man was asked to do his duty and sign up for combat.

Sally will reflect on the experiences of men like John W. Peake of the Reindeer Inn, Mill Street, who, when found to be under height and underweight for military service, was told by the sergeant at the medical examination to eat more pudding.

Legacies of The First World War remain in today’s memory – in 1916 T. & A. Naylor paid the Corporation £3,500 for Lowland Meadow between Green Street and Back Brook.

A condition of the sale was that within 12 months a factory costing at least £1,000 should be erected on the site for the manufacture of carpets, rugs or other fabrics.

Naylor’s choice to manufacture white blankets for the war effort was the start of the Lowland Mills which were a familiar sight in Kidderminster.

Further talks are planned for Friday, November 21, December 5, and December 12.

The exhibition, which runs until December 19, also features stories and objects shared by people living in Kidderminster, all keen to make sure that the contributions made by their family members during the First World War are recognised.

For more information about the exhibition or the focus talks visit museumofcarpet.org