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Park Lane, KIDDERMINSTER, DY11 6SH

An appropriately named public house in this former centre of the carpet industry.

Kidderminster has lost a lot of public houses in the last few years, but to partially redress the balance this one opened a few days ago on the 18th April 2014. It is a sister pub to one of the same name which opened in Comberton Hill Kidderminster in 2013. Although just about in the town centre, this one is a bit tucked away but hopefully it will become well known and be a success. Nearby in Park Lane there used to be a public house known as the "Old Parkers Arms", but that is long gone. Image Image The sister pub in Comberton Hill:- Image

Kidderminster has been a centre of the carpet industry for well over two hundred and fifty years, and although the trade has declined in the past few decades there are still factories making carpets in the town today. The pub's name is therefore very appropriate for the town. The sign shows a weaving loom. Image Image Update:- This sign was soon replaced by another. See:- Image

This public house opened on the 18th April 2014. The building is thought to have been built in or around 1840 and may have been used in connection with the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, which runs behind it. The new pub is beer focussed rather than a foodie pub. Previously the building had been used as offices by Swaffield Solicitors. Image Image Update:- The sign seen in this view has been replaced. Image

The photograph shows the public house with its new sign. The pub seems to be doing very well being one of the very few in the town that offer a wide selection of real ales. A close-up view of the new sign, see:- Image See also:- Image

Although this public house only opened in April 2014, the original pub sign was replaced quite quickly by this new one. It shows a group of people, presumably weavers, enjoying their drinks. Although the carpet industry in Kidderminster has declined, there are still a small number of firms manufacturing carpets in the town. However none remain in the town centre. At one time there were carpet factories at the other end of Park Lane. Some of the buildings remain but are no longer connected with the carpet industry. No doubt after the long hours in the mills, many of the workers were keen for a drink and the town centre contained many public houses to cater for them. In recent years the number has declined drastically. The previous sign:- Image Image

A public house next to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal in Kidderminster.

The former Old Parkers Arms public house closed a long time ago but it was converted into flats. In late September 2015 permission was given to demolish it. The developers lost no time in acting and no doubt in a few days the building will have completely gone. At the moment you can still see what was originally the toilet block, at the far left end. This was single storey, but the rest of the building was two storey. At the moment part of the staircase remains, near the middle of the picture, but leads nowhere. The name of the pub was carved in stone above the entrance door but this part has already vanished. The developers hope to build a group of town houses on the site. For a slightly different view and some more information please see:- Image How the pub looked before demolition (photo by Nick Yarwood):- Image

In recent years the former public house was used as flats. On one website that records "lost pubs" it is suggested that the Old Parkers Arms was at 34 Park Lane. There is a very faded photograph on that site showing a small terraced house with a name board at first floor level. It is impossible to read this. Certainly it looks very much like the residential terraced house at No. 34 Park Lane, which still exists. The site claims the pub was in existence in 1828. It may be that the pub relocated from 34 to 37 Park Lane. It was certainly last at 37 as above the door its name was carved in stone. See also:- Image How the pub looked before demolition (photo by Nick Yarwood):- Image