A historical society in Alcester is set to mark its 50th anniversary. 

The Alcester and District Local History Society was formed in 1974 after J. Edward Saville invited the residents of the Alcester area to a meeting to consider starting a local history group. 

The aim was to research the history of the area and publish findings that could be used as an important resource for the community. 

They also wanted to help safeguard historical materials and to establish a museum of local history in the town. 

This was finally achieved in 2004 with the opening of the Alcester Roman Heritage Centre in the old magistrates' court building. 

Over the years, the society has put on a regular monthly programme of history lectures as well as the occasional evening visit to places of historical interest for members and visitors. 

The membership of the group stands at around 150 members and it is continuing to grow. 

The group said part of its success is due to the publication of 'Local Past', a magazine published since 1980. 

Society chairman Alan Godfrey said: "Alcester and the surrounding district has over two thousand years of history from the Romans up to the present day and there is a great deal of interest from the local community in learning more about the town’s heritage.

"We are proud that the society has done much to research and promote this history over the last fifty years and make the information accessible, in a variety of forms, to everyone with an interest in our local history."

In the last fifty years, the society has published more than fifty Occasional Papers, ten longer histories and a twelve-part listing of local graveyard memorial inscriptions.

The photographic archive contains over 4,000 items, and one of the member involvement projects was to index The Alcester Chronicle from 1864 to 1900.

In 2024, the group took over the management of the Alcester Heritage Network, a community archive project founded a few years ago in the town.

To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the group has invited Professor Alice Roberts to give a public lecture called "Ancestors: A History of Britain through Burials". 

The lecture will take place on Saturday, September 7 at 7.30pm at The Greig Hall on Kinwarton Road. 

Tickets for the anniversary lecture cost £20 and can be purchased from PSW Paper & Print Ltd at 2 Bull’s Head Yard or online at www.alcesterhistory.org.uk 

It is a ticket-only event.