Page 82 - Redditch People

Redditch People

Life and Times of William T. Heming

n 1827, William Thomas Heming (born 1807), established a flourishing printing business
with an office on Prospect Hill and in September of 1859 he launched the town's first
newspaper, the Redditch Indicator.

That was the year which also saw the arrival of the Railway to a station in Clive Road and
the setting up of the Land and Building Society, later renamed the Redditch Benefit
Building Society, and now the Birmingham Midshires Building Society.

The paper was published weekly every Saturday (later every Friday) priced at one penny.

Heming had a desire to establish a newspaper for the Needle District at a low price and to
advocate local interest and record local events and local progress more fully than the
county newspapers can allow space for.

He was also an agent for the Lancashire Fire and Life Insurance Company and as the
town's fire engine was housed in a coach house near the printing works it was convenient
for his employees to constitute the fire brigade. Each would receive half a crown for his
services at the end of each fire.

At W. T. Heming’s death in January 1879, Mr Fred Heming became the proprietor.
Subsequently the business passed to William Lane.

The first Indicator offices In Prospect Hill. Publicity for the Redditch Indicator.
Page: 82 (Source: Redditch Indicator Newspaper in the RLHS
Archives)

© RLHS 2015