Alcester Civic Society History and Achievements

History

Alcester Civic Society was founded at a public meeting in October 1962 under the guidance of Mr Denis C Norman, then High Bailiff of Alcester and his wife Mrs Pamela Norman.

This was prompted by the demolition of George Mason’s High Street three storey pitched roof grocery shop, replaced by an inconsistent two storey flat roof building, and then the total demolition of the timber framed Rookery building on Stratford Road.  Denis and Pamela then became instrumental in leading the fight to save Alcester’s Malt Mill Lane from demolition.  In January 1963 at its first AGM, a general committee, planning committee and activities committee were elected, subsequently to become a single committee.

The Society forged links with national bodies including the Royal Fine Arts Commission, The Civic Trust (now Civic Voice), Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE), Society of Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), and other UK Civic Societies, with occasional visits.

The town centre is now a designated Conservation Area, and many of Alcester’s historic buildings have been listed for their legal protection against demolition and inappropriate alteration.

Achievements

1960s

Face lift scheme for High Street and Church Street with aid from Birmingham School of Architecture (now part of Birmingham City University).

Traffic survey by Birmingham School of Planning.

Tree survey of the town conservation area, contributing to Tree Preservation Orders.

Assessment and scrub clearance of the town’s Right of Way footpaths.

1970s

Inspection and maintenance of Right of Way footpaths.
First published selection of footpath walks guides.

1980s

Successful campaign for footbridges over the proposed Alcester bypass.

1990s

Naming of the town’s Right of Way footpaths as Tueries.  Video of Alcester.

2000s

‘Project 2000’ Traffic survey. Support to Advantage Alcester’s scheme to enhance tourism under national Market Town Initiative (extra High Street crossing points, finger posts for pedestrians, and other features).

2010s

Active influence on Alcester’s joint authority flood alleviation scheme 2011-12 for the town’s rivers and drainage actioned by Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water Company.

2020s

Continuing to press for improved parking in and around the town centre.

Revision of Society website with links to Historic England’s details of Alcester’s grade listed buildings, Footpath walks guides published on-line.

Over the years the society has maintained the footpaths around the town and surrounding countryside including the local section of The Heart of England Way, producing, and revising its own series of local walks guides, revised every decade or so. The latest series of walks are downloadable from this website.

Alcester Civic Society continues to give support to the initiatives of Alcester Town Council and the town’s various other voluntary groups such as Alcester in Bloom, Alcester and District Local History Society, Alcester Roman Museum, etc, and takes part in Alcester’s contributions to the national Heritage Open Days held annually in September.