On Wednesday 10th June the Society visited Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch.
The museum illustrates the rich heritage of the needle and fishing tackle industries. Needle making has been recorded in the area as early as the 1639. The building was originally an iron forge, but was converted into a scouring mill for needle production in 1730. The mill became steam powered in 1870. The mill closed in 1958. At its peak in the 1870s, the area was producing around 3.5 billion needles per year, around 90% of the world’s needle production. Forge Mill reopened as a museum, with Queen Elizabeth 11 visiting for the opening ceremony on 5 July 1983.
A short walk from the Museum, were the ruins of Bordesley Abbey – a medieval Cistercian Abbey which has been extensively excavated.
The Visitor Centre is set in an original reconstructed 16th century barn and tells the extraordinary story of the Abbey from it’s development in the 12th century to it’s destruction in 1538 by Henry the Vlll during the dissolution.
A lovely day was had by all, even the odd shower didn’t ruin our enjoyment of this fascinating place.
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