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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Redditch New Town

In 1964 Redditch was designated a “New Town”.

The designation of Redditch as a New Town was as much a significant event as the founding
of Bordesley Abbey, its subsequent dissolution, the emergence of the needle industry and
the war effort of the 1940s to name just a few.
As part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the designation of Redditch as
a “New Town” the Redditch Local History Society decided to mount an exhibitions depicting
the recent history of the town covering the 50 years from 1964 to 2014.
In preparing this exhibition we have been surprised at the difficulty in documenting the
recent history of the town. The period of the New Town development from 1964 to 1985
is well documented but the last 30 years to 2014 were more problematic.
During this period the town has continued to grow, change and mature but we suspect
we do not think of events as they happen as tomorrow’s history. This is perhaps a good
wake up call, for as a local History Society perhaps we should be recording history, as well
as reporting it.
Another key factor in preparing this exhibition was to not just report the “history” but also
to look at the emerging “heritage” that the New Town has created.

The designation of Redditch as a New Town changed the town for ever. But it also created
one of the greenest town in the country, a road system that still serves the town well after
fifty years and a diverse economy such that the town is not dependent upon one industry
or one employer.

An aerial view of
Redditch in the early
1970s showing the
old Evesham Street
alongside the new
Kingfisher Centre
development which
would eventually
replace it.

Photo courtesy or
Redditch Library

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