AN Aladdin’s Cave of discovery awaits visitors to the Redditch Local History Museum which opens its doors to the public next Wednesday, November 3.
Located on Market Place opposite St Stephen’s, it’s filled to overflowing with the history of the town covering the last 250 years.
Indeed thereby hangs a tale, as one of the prized possessions of the trustees is a second edition of Nash’s History of Worcestershire from the 1700s.
Inside you’ll find Ipsley, Bordesley, Tardebigge and all the surrounding villages, but there’s no mention of Redditch.
Trustee Derek Coombes says it was the Industrial Revolution and the explosion in needle manufacture that led to the spectacular growth of the town.
However he is at pains to point out that for the history of the needle industry you have to go to Forge Mill Needle Museum at Bordesley.
“We see ourselves as complementing Forge Mill which does an excellent covering the story of the needle industries in Redditch,” he said.
Indeed the Redditch History Museum has riches enough of its own.
There’s the tale of the town itself, from a chapel at Bordesley which was moved to where St Stephen’s stands today.
As the town grew so St Stephen’s was built, and then extended as more people arrived.
There’s displays showing prominent figures who shaped the town through the centuries and bringing it right up to date there’s the arrival of the new town and all the changes that brought.
And for anyone who wonders what the old ‘Evesham Street’ looked like, steel yourself as there’s a scale model of one side of it in the museum.
It will be like stepping back in time for old Redditch hands and an intriguing look at the past for those who arrived later.
It’s amazing, Redditch with a traditional high street, stretching from what is now Evesham Walk up through the Kingfisher and out by Primark.
Work is currently underway on the model for the other side of Evesham Street and the plan is to alternate the displays every three months or so.
The new town isn’t ignored either.
“I think there’s always been people born and brought up in Redditch who think the new town was a disaster,” said Derek.
“Now there is a generation brought up in the new town era who say ‘the Kingfisher isn’t as good as itr used to be’.
“For me, the history of Redditch didn’t stop with the new town, it goes on, and it’s more than 50 years since Redditch was designated a new town.”
The museum also features plenty of information and artefacts from the town’s industrial past, from Royal Enfield bicycles and motorbikes to the work of Terry’s springmaker which also turned its hand to making all sorts of things.
They even have a working magic lantern, thousands of town photographs on a rolling screen and countless other artefacts waiting for visitors to discover.
And that’s just half of it, as downstairs volunteers are busy cataloguing all they have and rescuing them for posterity.
“We started this project three years ago, because we felt so much was being lost and memories of the town and all it did were going forever,” said Derek.
“We have been very lucky that the Kingfisher Shopping Centre has been able to support us by making these premises available.
“And we have been fortunate with the donations we have received, but we still need to bring in £12,000 to £15,000 a year to keep us open.
“So any help from volunteers and donations would be more than welcome.”
Redditch Local History Museum officially opens on Wednesday, November 3 and thereafter will initially be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
Entry is just £2, not bad for a trip back in time and there’s so much to see you’ll be back again and again.
For more on volunteering and for dontations email [email protected] visit: www.rlhm.uk or call 07486 882181 or 07860 326582
