Barbara Middlemas, the guest speaker at the Evesham & District July monthly meeting, gave an interesting and informative talk on the 19th century industrialist and philanthropist John Corbett (The Salt King). Born into a lowly family in the Black Country, the eldest of seven children, Corbett developed knowledge and managerial skills that took him to the top of his profession despite his limited education. His breakthrough came when, in 1852, he purchased the Stoke Prior Salt works in the Droitwich area. Although many former owners had gone bankrupt, Corbett was determined to make the enterprise flourish, and after considerable and expensive restoration work succeeded in exploiting the high-quality brine to be found beneath the town.

Corbett was a generous man who put his wealth to good use, building model houses for his employees, ensuring that they were fairly paid and, eventually, abolishing female employment in the works. He donated money to his local community, particularly churches.

In 1870 he bought land at Impney and, in order to raise his status, and having gone to great lengths to ensure that the ground was stable and not prone to subsidence, commissioned the building of Chateau Impney in the style of French chateaux. In 1874 he was elected MP and served for 15 years. Although he was not a noted Parliamentarian, he is known to have supported women’s suffrage (a view reflected in his enlightened attitude to his employees).

Chateau Impney is now a hotel and conference centre and host to the Chateau Impney Hill Climb for vintage cars which took place last weekend.

Many members left the meeting much more aware of the long history of a town just a few miles away.

Grahame Percival

(01386 45406)