Page 17 - The Long Crendon Connection

The Long Crendon Connection Redditch Heritage

Bridge saw the horse trains setting of for Moreton in the Marsh. On they went down Bridge St,
with the 'Golden Lion' and 'Red Horse1 on the right and the 'Red Lion' on the left, then through
the town to the Alcester road.

As they climbed Red Hill, the weather was changing. A north-west wind brought heavy gray clouds
to obscure the sun. Soon the first flakes of snow started falling, light at first, then like wet bird
droppings, which intensified, and, with the wind gathering force in front of them, it was Y like
a stinging wall.
Past Alcester up the hill to Coughton Park, slipping and stumbling in the snow, their speed was
slowed to a crawl. The snow stopped, but it lay hard frozen and darkness was on them. First the
men, then the women had to help push to aid the horses. At least they grew warmer with their
efforts, but it was midnight before they reached the Ridgeway. At last, with the moon shining
brightly on a white landscape, they reached Astwood Bank at 2am. on the morning of Thursday,
February 1. The long journey into a new life was over.

Crescent Works, Mount Pleasant, Redditch - Home to Partridges of Redditch. One
of the needlemaking manufacturers to employ the Long Crendon workers

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