At last months meeting Derek Clarke described the trials and tribulations he encountered when restoring the Birmingham Back to Backs. The buildings were in such a poor state of repair emergency work was required to stabilise the structures before any restoration work could begin.

The houses date back to the 1840’s and each one has been decorated and furnished in the style reflecting a different period of the buildings life.

This policy extends even to the outside privies where the oldest is fitted with a “Thunder Box” a wooden seat with a hole in it!

Now they are a major tourist attraction with four of the houses being let as holiday homes.

At the next meeting on December 11 Alan Green,a member of the Stourport “Monday Club”, will give a talk entitled “ The Inside story of Pantomime”. Lots of anecdotes for Christmas story telling.

Meetings are held at the Elizabeth Mills Centre, New Street, starting at 7.30pm.

Admission for non members £2.