The Kidderminster Historical Society will host the lecture, titled ‘Chateau Impney, Droitwich – A Victorian Country House’.
The event will be held at The Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, on Thursday, January 23, at 2.30pm.
The talk will be delivered by John Richard Hodges, who will share insights about Impney Hall, a mansion built between 1869 and 1875 for John Corbett, the ‘Worcestershire Salt King’, and his family.
Corbett, who started as the son of a Delph canal boat carrier, became a successful entrepreneur, known for his philanthropy.
The mansion, a testament to Corbett’s wealth and influence, was renamed Chateau Impney in 1949.
Mr Hodges’s talk will navigate the life of the industrialist and philanthropist, alongside the history of Impney Hall, traversing from the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign into the 20th and 21st centuries.
Mr Hodges, now a part-time teacher and writer living in Worcester, has authored 20 books, many chronicling the tales of notable country houses.
His diverse career began on an arable and stock farm in Shropshire, after which he worked at Collins Publishing House in London.
He later trained as a teacher, serving in various schools, including those for children with special needs.
His professional journey also took him abroad, to a private school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and in Paphos, Cyprus.
The historical society welcomes visitors to its meetings for a small fee.
More information can be found on their website kdahs.org.