Page 11 - HB- Bordesley Abbey

Bordesley Abbey Redditch Heritage

had its Court Leet and so continued intact but in Redditch the local administration had
been in the hands of the Abbot and Chapter of Bordesley and passed with them into
limbo.

Ultimately Redditch became a Chapelry within the parish of Tardebigge. The population
of Redditch moved gradually from the old village and increasingly centred itself around
the Abbey Grange on the high ground south of the Abbey.

Local Markets

By 1780 the markets were held on Redditch Common as opposed to the Abbey forecourt
as previously, and finally permission was obtained for the removal of the old chapel to
the new site. The new community was a long time in transition possibly two hundred
years. Although the old red ditch was left to run its lonely course through the almost
deserted village the name was transplanted with the community to the common.

The removal of the fabric of the old chapel was not a success resulting only in the
destruction of the last remaining building of the monastery complex. The new chapel
ultimately constructed on the “green” had little of the old chapel in its fabric but carried
on the traditions of the original community chapel and also the same dedication to St.
Stephen.

Needle making communities emerged soon after the Dissolution, congregated around
the major Granges. The most important was in Alcester and another was located at
Littleworth, Berrow under Hill, in the Forest of Feckenham.

Other needled making communities grew up around Coughton, Sambourne, Atwood
Bank and Alvechurch. Gradually Redditch became the trading centre of the needle trade.
The whole area became known as the Midland Needle Region and, when most of the
needlemakers from other parts of the country - unable to compete - decided to join the
Midlands needlemakers, subsequently “The English Needle Region”

The harnessing of water power C1730 to the more laborious processes of needle
making, the final needle polishing, was the great breakthrough which made Redditch not
only the metropolis of British Needlemaking but also the premier needlemaking centre
in the world.

The new town of Redditch was built upon the sure and tried foundations laid down by
the Cistercian monks of Bordesley long ago.

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