MORE THAN 100 people turned out today for the official opening of Droitwich Spa’s new-look Heritage Centre.
The ribbon was cut by Mayor of Droitwich, Coun Christine Bowden, who also gave a speech at the event, along with Deputy Lord Lieutenant TP DL, Charles Moyle, and MP Nigel Huddleston.
The opening coincided with English Tourism Week, which began last Friday and runs until Sunday, March 13 to 22.
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Mr Moyle, standing in for Lord Lieutenant Beatrice Grant and representative of The King, spoke about Droitwich as having a deep sense of civic pride, a strong sense of identity and a spirit of community which shone through in everything it did.
“There are so many good news stories about this ancient county town.
“Droitwich is not just a great place to live and work but to bring up families too.”
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He praised Droitwich’s inclusion and referenced a morning spent at the Droitwich Community Pantry and Fridge and its remarkable volunteers.
On the Heritage Centre he said: “This is a place that connects past with present and offers learning, inspiration and opportunity for all.
“This community asset speaks volume about the strength of Droitwich’s people and the deep-rooted sense of belonging that underpins the town’s ongoing success.”
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Mr Huddleston said: “It’s fantastic to see continued investment in the Droitwich Spa Heritage Centre.
“Droitwich has a rich and unique history, and projects like this ensure that story is preserved and shared with future generations.”
“He added it was a pleasure to be at the opening and said: “This is about more than heritage – it’s about bringing people into the town, supporting local businesses and strengthening the community.
“It’s a great example of what can be achieved when there is real ambition and belief in the future of our town.”
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And he praised the volunteers who worked tirelessly at the attractions to make visitors’ experiences as great as they can be.
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Catherine Finn, joint Heritage Manager with Rebecca Butler, said: “We are very pleased with how it has been transformed – we worked closely with the designers who were great at helping make our ideas and vision a reality.
“It is such an interactive space now and has lots of hands-on activities for children to do.
“We are hoping, as well as people from Droitwich, that visitors will come from Birmingham and Worcester to learn about our town’s history and see what we have to offer.”
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A multitude of activities
The new-look centre charts Droitwich Spa’s fascinating history and is billed as a ‘260million year story’.
The venue explains the salt heritage – both from its value when it was originally found to its uses in culinary and tourism.
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Visitors are taken on a journey from the ice age, iron age, Romans and Anglo Saxons, right up to the modern day with one display dedicated to the Wychbold Masts and Droitwich’s BBC broadcasting past – including being an outpost for the famous World Service.
There are plenty of activities for children, including touch screens and puzzles.
And the centre also features art works and exhibitions from local artists and creatives.
The redevelopment
Redevelopment plans began in 2023, shaped by community consultation, followed a successful application to Wychavon Council’s Community Legacy Grant programme.
The funding made it possible to extend the centre into the existing undercroft and reconfigure the internal layout.
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
The project was delivered with the support of local councillors, volunteers, and professional partners.
Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, the centre was able to remain open throughout most of the works, closing fully for just three weeks.
