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Green Street, KIDDERMINSTER, DY10 1JF

Latterly occupied by Victoria Carpets, this block with the pediment dates from 1869 and is Grade II Listed. The weaving sheds behind have been demolished and replaced by a car park.

The Victoria Carpet Company started in Kirkcaldy in 1895 and relocated to vacant premises in Kidderminster in 1899. The company also operates from Worcester Road and in 1999 relocated the Green Street operation and sold off the works. This was a grim January day but I was trying to make the best of it and capture some local industry.

Former carpetfactory. The car park of a new shopping complex can clearly be seen to be where weaving sheds once stood - the profile of the roof is visible on the building to the left. This is the same area from the Green Street side - Image with relevant text - The Victoria Carpet Company started in Kirkcaldy in 1895 and relocated to vacant premises in Kidderminster in 1899. The company also operates from Worcester Road and in 1999 relocated the Green Street operation and sold off the works.

Despite extensive redevelopment behind the frontages on the right, this view still retains an industrial 'vibe'. On the left is Mortons Works and on the right New Road Carpet Mills, formerly occupied by Victoria Carpets.

New management, new sign but still Marstons.

New Road was new in Victorian times, and even today most of the buildings fronting it are former carpet mills. Those on the left being part of the Castle Spinning Mills, those on the right being part of what was known as Morton's Works. Today they are used for other purposes, including retail carpet showrooms. During the period 1898 to 1929, the Kidderminster and Stourport Tramway used to run all along New Road, and in 1929 was replaced by Midland Red motor buses. The tramway was mainly single track, with passing loops, and of 3 foot 6 inch gauge. The road coming in on the left of this view, now known as Tram Street, gave access to the tramway's depot and an electricity generating station. The depot is long gone, but the electricity facility is still in operation. Image Image

This large former carpet factory is between New Road and Green Street. Built 1870 to the designs of J G Bland for James Morton & Co. From 1890 it became part of the Carpet Manufacturing Company and that eventually became part of a huge conglomerate in the Coloroll Group. This finally died in 1990 and Mortons Works became an industrial estate.