ALCESTER Heritage Network is appealing for residents to get in touch, who might have information about the history of the Moors.

The Moors is the area of town now enclosed by School Road, Priory Road, High Street and Henley Street.

These days it’s mostly taken up by shops and car parks, as well as the old Moorfields infants’ school, the tennis courts, and the scout and guide building.

Research by Alcester Heritage Network volunteer Karyl Rees has already revealed several changes to the road names around the Moors as well as the route of roads, which have changed over the years.

School Road was once called Moor Lane, and Moorfield Road used to exit into Priory Road, crossed by a small lane, which is now known as Moorfields, but was originally called Cross Lane.

At one end of School Road, where it meets Gunnings Bridge, there were six houses known as Spring Gardens, while at the other end of School Road, was an area known as Saltbox Row.

Ms Rees said: “I have gained a lot of information from census returns, about who lived in which houses, but what I do not know, and have not yet been able to find out, is how many houses were on the Moors, and where exactly they were.

“Some cottages still remain, but many have been demolished. If anyone can help me with this, perhaps with photographs, maps or documents relating to this area, please do get in touch.”

Ms Rees has already written a book about the history of education in Alcester which was published last year.

Anyone who knows anything about the Moors, or the people who once lived there, and would like to help out in any way with research on the area, can get in touch with Karyl Rees at karyl.rees@sky.com.