Museum of Carpet/ Lord Ward Shed

 

The development of steam powered looms for the carpet weaving industry from around 1851 presented grave problems for the town. Handloom weavers lost their employment and Kidderminster experienced a very fraught decade. For businesses struggling to adapt to the new technology there was a need to invest in new premises which could accommodate both the steam generation and delivery systems together with the larger looms suited to the technology.

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The Lord Ward Shed – as it was known – was a solution to this challenge – funded by Lord Ward (later the Earl of Dudley) who was the town's principal land owner- at the suggestion of Joseph Kitely and George Grosvenor, two carpet manufacturers. The ‘Shed’ allowed manufacturers to access steam power and the space for the larger looms on a shared basis while making transition to the new processes. The architect was JG Bland of Birmingham who was responsible for a number of other striking  industrial buildings in the town and in Birmingham

It later became part of the extensive premises of Woodward Grosvenor and now houses the Museum of Carpet.