New Town from 1964 and old town from the 1300s, Redditch has a lot to offer the modern holidaymaker. Here’s what you need to know.
The large town of Redditch lies around 15 miles south of central Birmingham. It is the first town which is removed from the block of towns which make up the suburbs of Birmingham. The population used to be around 30,000 people, but in 1964 the government dedicated it as a New Town which would soak up the overspill in population from Birmingham. 60 years later and it now holds a
What is Redditch Famous For?
In the 19th century, the town of Redditch was famous for needles. 90% of the world’s needles were created here. There is a 12th-century abbey in town, and it was once home to the world’s largest hammer. Why not?
The Early Days of Redditch
Where Redditch now stands was inhabited as far back as the Palaeolithic and the Mesolithic periods. Flint tools and evidence of settlements have come from all across the area. Records from the archives show many archaeological sites in the area, including Anglo-Saxon, Iron Age and Celtic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age sites here.
The Romans invaded Britain from the southeast coastline circa 1 AD. When they arrived in Britain, the area of Redditch belonged to the Dobunni tribe. They built hill forts to protect their people and evidence of these is all over the area. The Romans and the tribes united, leading to the creation of Ptolemy’s map. Later, the tribe would fracture into smaller parts. The Romans did not fracture and stayed in the country until 400AD. They returned to help defend their own homes in Italy. They left behind the Roman Road at Ickneld Street, as well as shards of pottery and evidence of their dwellings. Some may have stayed behind with their families, but not enough to create any resistance when the Angles and Saxons spread their slow way across the country,
The Angles and Saxons came into control as the Romans retreated. The area of Redditch was in the Kingdom of Mercia. Before England, the country was split into separate kingdoms with Mercia being one of the largest and the richest. The records go quiet around Redditch in this era because the area was mostly farmland. It stayed that way until the Normans arrived in 1066 – hardly even worth the attention of the Vikings.
Medieval Era Worcestershire
King William of Orange ordered the Domesday Survey in 1066 but it took 20 years for his officials to make the rounds of England and report back on exactly what it was that he had captured when he invaded. The Domesday Survey was the culmination of all the known wealth of England. Although the town itself does not appear, there are a variety of manor and stately homes in the area. Willingwick and Bentley Manor were but two. The area was still largely arable. The town’s name of Redditch was not written down until 1348, as far as records tell.
Research conducted by the University of Birmingham shows that Redditch was a rural and urban settlement in the 12th and 13th centuries, experiencing a period of growth. Feckenham Forest was a main source of tourism nearby. The forest was a royal hunting forest, meaning there were likely poachers everywhere. Bordesley Abbey, the nearby Cistercian Abbey, dates to this time period. The patron was Empress Matilda around 1141.
The Abbey continued to operate until Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries circa 1538.
Fun Facts about Redditch
Every town we review has fun facts which make it special. Redditch has a long enough history that we could take our pick. Here are the fun things that you should know about Redditch, should you wish to spread some fun facts around at parties:
- Redditch probably takes its name from a literal red ditch. The nearby River Arrow is known for the deep red clay it produces.
- The town did once play home to the world’s largest hammer. Made in the US at a weight of 455 tonnes, the hammer was a tribute to the war efforts of the Second World War.
- John Bonham, the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, once got a report card from his Redditch school which said he’d either be a dustman or a millionaire. The teacher was not wrong.
- The roads here are famously messed up. Weirdly the locals love them but visitors just can’t work it out.
- The Flying Flea was made here in the Second World War. There were two brands which made this bike. The Flea would carry orders in areas with poor radio communication. It was fast, easy to drop into the lines, and got the job done subtly.
- In 2022, the Birmingham Mail named Redditch one of the unhappiest places in the UK to live. Not a title any town wants, this report is based on a survey of happiness run by the Office of National Statistics. It’s like the words “smile more” were a town instead of a phrase.
And without doing anything else to deteriorate the inhabitants of this apparently hapless town, let’s get back to the history where we were disturbing nobody.
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution spurred further growth in Redditch thanks to the building of the Stratford-Upon-Avon canal. Its arrival in 1802, further aided by the arrival of the railway line in 1859, gave the traders of Redditch open up new revenue potential. During the following hundred years or so, the town became famous for needles and fishing tackle. The town made so many needles that there is a needle-making museum here, but more on that later.
There was a serious riot in Redditch in 1800 because there was not enough to eat. The Labourer’s Revolt of around the same time would have a similar impact on towns throughout England. Either there was not enough bread or there was not enough work. If there was work, people lived ten to a room. In 1807 the town gained the Chapel on the Green. The Methodist church opened in 1812. In 1832 the town suffered a cholera outbreak in the same year as a royal party passed through on their way to Alcester. In 1843, the town’s now two Methodist churches built two school rooms to hold Sunday school in.
The Redditch Teetotal Society was formed in 1839. There were allotments in town which covered 20 acres in 1846.
If there is one article you must read about Redditch, it is this description in the London Times regarding an elephant at large. The elephant was part of Batty’s Menagerie and the story goes that it went for a walk behind the Fox and Goose. The elephant pummelled a wall to pieces and demolished a large apple tree, pear and gooseberry bushes, rows of celery and a bed of carrots. The unfortunate landlord was reimbursed by Mr Batty in recompense.
In 1851 there was a Great Exhibition on needleworking held in town. By this time needle production was already through the roof. The Redditch Historical Society records that travellers were complaining about the state of the roads in Redditch from as early as 1851. This proves that some things never change.
In 1852 there was a hurricane in town, and by 1854 Redditch needles were on show at exhibits in America. They appeared in Paris a year later. There was a fire at the Red Lion Inn in 1857. The following year the Public Health Act came into place and made changes to the cleanliness of the streets, though complaints in 1859 indicate that this may not have happened to residents’ liking. Records from 1858 say the town was exceedingly good in terms of revenue. The Baroness Windsor gifted the Redditch Rifle Corps a shooting range nearby, making those woods even more dangerous. The local police station expanded in 1863 with the Working Man’s Dramatic Society making its debut the following year. There was a small earthquake which also took place in 1863.
New schools opened in 1867 and 1868. The town gained a concert hall in 1868. They gained a Choral Society in 1870, several churches over the years, and even had a circus in 1871. In 1879 there was a local cocoa house as the luxury of hot chocolate spread throughout Britain. The Rifle Corps started a band in 1880 and the train station expanded two years later. The new bathing place opened in 1882 and the cemetery grew 3 acres the following year. A new public hall opened in 1885 and by the end of the century, 8,000 residents were employed solely in needle production.
The Modern Town
By 1904 the town was a centre for needles and fishing tackle, “practically holding the monopoly.” Around then, bicycles became popular and the town made money manufacturing parts. A new golf course opened in 1913 and a co-op opened in 1914. That same year the town was producing around 3,000 rifles per week for British forces fighting abroad. In 1915 there was an outbreak of diphtheria which forced the schools to close. This persistent problem lasted until the following year. Serious influenza also struck in 1918. There were 2,500 cases. Another 2 acres graced the cemetery in 1919.
By 1928 2,000 million needles were exported annually from Redditch. In 1930 the town celebrated its bicentenary of needle-making as a hereditary tradition. In 1939 the town went back into full production of arms. They created a new gun which fired 7,000 rounds per 30 minutes. By 1945 we were holding funfairs again while the town council built 3,474 post-war homes, completed in 1959.
By the eighties, the area was falling into deprivation. There were royal visits, new hospitals, and church reopenings throughout the next 50 years. You can see a full list of the upgrades that the town gained between those periods of industrial decline courtesy of the historic society. Or you could just take our word for it that the town has grown, stretched, added new shiny bits, and basically gotten better since the recessions of the 80s.
Nowadays Redditch is still a star in the needle-making industry. It became a New Town in the 60s and grew exponentially, hence the blast from a wealthy town into sudden dilapidation. The town is a major commuter area for people working in Birmingham. It’s also small enough to retain that community feel that always made it stand out. Today the town has a population of upwards of 87,000 people. It’s big, but it’s still removed enough from the city that you can easily access the countryside. We give it a double thumbs up on our no thumbs to two thumbs rating of staycation destinations in the UK.
Famous People from Redditch
Whether you are visiting Redditch or are on the way to Birmingham proper, there are always famous people that have emerged from that specific area. We home-grow our celebrities here in the UK. Here are the best of the Redditch bunch for your perusal:
- Led Zeppelin’s drummer was born in Redditch, his name was John Bonham and he sadly passed in 1980.
- Brit rally superstar Russell Brookes is from here.
- Several footballers, including Jimmy Davis, Stacy Coldicott and Joe Lolley.
- John Taylor from Duran Duran went to the local high school.
- Tom Paddock, former national heavyweight bare-knuckle boxer.
- Harry Styles was born in Redditch. Do we need to explain who Harry Styles is?
- The Black Sabbath frontman Tony Martin was a Redditch man.
That’s a high ratio of celebrity to person there. You never know who you might meet on the street.
The Best Attractions in Town
Throughout this part of the article, we like to explain what the best things to see and do are. In Redditch, try to see the following local favourites before you search any further for things to do.
Historic Sites
Head to the Morton Hall Gardens to take part in the stroll garden famously designed by landscape architect Charles Cheshire. Morton Hall Gardens contain a bluebell woodland area, a tulip season, and a flower for all stages of the summer. Set on the edge of the Vale of Evesham, it is well worth the visit for anyone who wants to spend the afternoon enjoying the refreshing scents and sounds of nature.
Landmarks
There are a few sculptures you can visit in town if you want to take some Instagram pictures. Check out “Springs Eternal” in front of the town hall. This excellent example of meaningful artwork commemorates the town’s long history with springs. Not as vital to the economy as needles were, the spring trade nevertheless powered the growth of Redditch during that industrial era. There is also an epic memorial to John Bonham that you should visit if you want to pay your respects to Led Zeppelin.
Cultural Attractions
If you would like to see some theatre in a beautiful Grade II listed building, then head to the Palace Theatre ticket booths to see what is on. They offer a variety of shows, entertainment, and live music. This is where you flock to during the Christmas holidays to catch a pantomime.
You can visit the Redditch Local History Museum if you would like to find out more about the town’s past. It will be far more thorough than we have been.
You cannot come to the world’s leading supplier of needles and not stop at the Forge Mill Needle Museum and combined Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre. For some reason, Redditch authorities really like to squash all their best bits together into one attraction. The Forge Mill Needle Museum is set inside pleasant grounds with lawns and picnic tables. The attached visitor centre will help you explore the nearby ruins as they lay today. Only the foundation stones of the abbey remain visible. The needle museum will tell you everything you were too scared to ask about making needles, and how the production of these metal tools went hand in hand with the growth of the town. Anyone who ever went to school here has been to that museum at least twice. You can tell.
Recreation
Kids love Attwell Farm Park near Redditch. This place has a petting zoo with over 30 different animal species on site. There is an indoor soft play area and an adventure play barn, plus rotating special themes. Themes include dinosaurs, princesses, pirates, and superheroes. Book your ticket in advance because this place is extremely popular.
Got younger kids? Take them to the soft play at Imagination Street. This massive facility has a huge play area, castles, courts, and plenty of sensory toys. There are quiet areas for kids who need it, and you can rent it for birthday parties. Booking is essential here because it is incredibly popular.
Sports and Teams
The local football team are the Redditch United Football Club. They play in the Valley stadium, where you can catch season tickets through their website. They play in the Southern Football League.
Redditch has a Rugby Club, too. The Redditch Rugby Football Club is part of the Redditch Cricket, Hockey, and Rugby Football Club. The best place to find out how to play or catch a match is through their Facebook page.
When it comes to golf, you can choose between the Redditch Golf Club and the Pitcheroak Golf Course, both of which are within the town.
Outdoor Attractions
Head outdoors to the Arrow Valley Country Park. At 900 acres, this area is run by Redditch Council. There is a visitor centre in the middle of the park. There is a café with views out over the central lake area and many walks and talks to take part in. You can take part in water sports in summer, and even fish here.
Shopping and Retail
There are all the big brand players you’d expect to find in Redditch, including a local Primark. If you want to shop for clothing head to the Trafford Retail park. If you want a bit of variety then the Kingfisher Shopping Centre might be better for you.
Where to Eat and Drink in Redditch?
The Hart at the Headless Cross is a favourite among locals. It has a British pub menu that won’t disappoint you. There’s a Beefeater in town if you want something reliable. The Rasoi Cottage serves Bangladeshi cuisine, while the Essence of Bengal has beautiful Indian food.
The Sunset Cocktail Bar on Unicorn Hill is a favourite. The Hart Pub does cocktails too after 5 pm. If you want to try real cocktail finery Birmingham is home to the Alchemist bar, and you are within stumbling home distance by taxi.
Other Nearby Attractions
There are several other notable places to visit in and around Greater Birmingham. If you are lacking inspiration about where to visit next, simply follow these other travel guides we prepared earlier:
- Visit Birmingham for a day of sightseeing.
- You can visit the Wolverhampton Warriors on their home turf in the city.
- Visit Kidderminster and find the person who named it. Have your revenge.
- The city of Leicester is not too far away if you fancy a long drive to a leafy town.
- There is the racecourse at Cheltenham to the south if you fancy wearing a big hat.
You are nearby Walsall, Dudley, Solihull, Royal Leamington Spa, and plenty of other towns when you are in this area.
How to get to Redditch?
We would be remiss in our roles as tour guides if we failed to point you in the right direction to get to Redditch. Here are our best attempts at directions.
By Road
Head south out of Birmingham and then east along the M40.
By Rail
The Redditch train station is on the West Midlands line.
By Air
Birmingham is your nearest international airport.
By Sea
Unfortunately, Redditch is landlocked.
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