Stourport Civic Society

The Society works to protect and improve Stourport and to promote interest in its history as a Georgian New Town and Canal Port, industrial centre and inland resort. The society is concerned to safeguard the greenbelt and landscape of the Severn Valley. The society is non political and a member of West Midlands Amenity Societies Association (MASA).

Meetings

All events usually start at 7:30pm at the Elizabeth Mills Centre in New Street, Stourport.

Everybody is welcome.

Admission: £4.00 (Members £2.50)
Light refreshments included.

Upcoming meetings

Looking at Shops

Ned Williams | 10th July 2025

Membership

Membership subscription Rates: (UK only, enquire for overseas rates).

Full Membership £12.00
Joint Membership £20.00
Corporate membership £50.00

Civic Award

The Stourport Civic Award was set up in 1995 with the aim to identify and recognise those projects which have made a contribution to the environmental quality of Stourport. The first winner was for the rebuilding of Engine Lane bridge by British Waterways.

It is run biennially by Stourport Civic Society.

Winners

2019 – The Wharf
2017 – Burlish Park Primary School and Worleys at the Swan
2015 – Working Boat Bramble and the Wyre Forest Crematorium
2012 – Anglo House & Stourport Primary School
2010 – Moorhall Nature Reserve and The Windlass Café and Heritage Rooms
2008 – British Waterways – Stourport Canal Basins Restoration
2006 – Church House and the Stourport Wesley Methodist Church
2004 – Areley Mews
2002 – The Black Star Public House
2000 – 1 Mill Road
1997 – No Winner – The award was not presented in 1997 as none of the entries were felt to have reached a suitable standard. A Commendation was presented to Nestle Ltd for the extension to the Vinegar works in Cheapside.
1995 – British Waterways for Engine Bridge.

Newsletters

The Stourport Civic Society produces an informative Newsletter once a year. To download the latest newsletters simply click on the links below.

Links open PDF files produced by a third party (Stourport Civic Society) which may not be fully accessible.

Unlocking Stourport's Past

This was a two and a half year project managed by Stourport Civic Society and funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide, The Countryside Agency and the Local Heritage Initiative. The Civic Society were acting in partnership with Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service.

“Forgotten Stourport” was made the theme of our Project which sought to help update the historic record of the town by documenting and recording non-listed buildings and structures in the hope that this would give them some form of protection.

You can download the leaflets produced by the project by clicking on them below, or you can visit the Unlocking Stourport’s Past website (opens in a new tab) created by the Civic Society for a fascinating insight in to Stourport-on-Severn’s history.

Unlocking Stourport’s Pubs (PDF)
Unlocking Stourport’s Past – High Street
Unlocking York Street’s Past
Unlocking Stourport’s Walls
Unlocking Stourport’s Canal Basins

Publications

There are a number of fascinating publications about the unique history of Stourport-on-Severn.

Stourport’s Pubs

A search for their history by John C Cook, Stourport Civic Society.

Stourport grew from the small hamlet of Lower Mitton. The catalyst for this growth was the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Completed in 1771, this canal, with its basins and wharves provided many job opportunities. Those who filled these jobs were well catered for as regards drinking establishments. Some of these places are still in business today. Many more have vanished, but not necessarily without trace. This book sets out to discover where and when these “Pubs” existed, and who was responsible for their being. This is an attempt at naming every Pub, Tavern, Inn, Ale House, and Beer House, that ever served a pint within the boundaries of the town. During that period of more than two and a half centuries, over nine hundred men and women have held licences for those places.

£7.50 per copy available from Stourport Civic Society – Order

Searching for Monica Baldwin

by Pauline Annis

Born in Stourport, debutante, nun for 28 years, best-selling author, died in obscurity in 1975.

£5 per copy, available from: Bentley’s, High Street and online

Images of England… Stourport-on-Severn

This local history book contains a hitherto unpublished collection of old photographs of the town and was published in Summer 2001. Collection of the photos and all the detailed research was done by our late President, Anna Carter.

It contains a fascinating collection of over 200 old photographs (many not published before) portraying Stourport-on-Severn, ‘the canal town par excellence.’ The collection records the basins and river and includes scenes dating well back into the nineteenth century, illustrating Stourport’s maritime history as an inland port.

Modestly priced at £2.00 the booklet is available from Stourport Library, Oxfam, High Street, the Lock Shop and other outlets and by post in the UK (price £2.37, includes P&P) as well as online.

Videos

The Tontine Building in Stourport

Stourport Town Clock & floods (with commentary by Pauline Annis and Councillor David Little)

Stourport Wesley Church before and after renovation

Stourport on Cine in the 1970’s

Stourport Basins restoration 2005 – 2008

Stourport a Georgian canal town (with commentary by Dr Richard Taylor)

Dr Richard Taylor (former hospital consultant and local MP) giving his talk about Dr Masterman, a former Stourport GP

Stourport on Cine in the 60’s (A wonderful selection of 8mm. Cine film. Includes Street and river carnivals with the old gas works etc. in the background. Noel Gordon’s visit to Stourport with her programme ‘Lunch Box’ on the side of the river. Old shops and buildings. Floods, Ice and snow. (Original material by Tom Head, Bob Hughes and Joe Barnes – 27 mins)

Stourport Drill Hall (9 mins)

Stanley Baldwin MP and his Stourport Ancestors (with commentary by Pauline Annis)

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