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Redditch Leasing

Did You Know?

The modern Kingfisher Shopping Centre is among the top ten shopping centres in the country while Redditch's world renowned needle making industry is celebrated and preserved through the Forge Mill Needle Museum, with the remains of the 12th century monastic Bordesley Abbey nearby.

The community of Redditch dates from the 12th Century and the triangular town green was the original centre and still exists today. The attractive Church Green, with its 19th century Stephen's Church along with the historic fountain and bandstand, has been carefully preserved.

Early life. Harry Edward Styles was born on 1 February 1994 in Redditch, the son of landlady Anne Twist (née Selley) and finance worker Desmond "Des" Styles. When he was a child, he moved with his parents and older sister, Gemma, to the village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire.

Redditch was once home to the largest hammer in the world - called ‘The Erie Hammer’. It was manufactured in the USA and shipped across to the UK piece by piece, as the total piece of machinery weighed 455 tonnes. It was used during the second world war to manufacture components for the war effort, taking responsibility for the majority of the manufacture of Britains aero-engine pistons

The Romans built a road through the area that was to become Redditch in about 60 A.D. The road, known as Iknield Street, began at Bourton on the Water and finished at Rotherham, after passing through Derby, the area that would become Birmingham, and Alcester, which was a Roman town at the time.

During World War Two Redditch manufactured the Royal Enfield WD/RE, also known as the ‘Flying Flea'. The bike could be dropped in with parachutes and gliders and was designed for rapid message carrying between air and ground troops in areas without radio communications set up.

The Paolozzi Mosaics, large mosaics on the walls of the Kingfisher Centre, were inspected by the Queen in 1983 whilst she was visiting Redditch and they have received acclaim from all over the globe.

Although he wasn't born there, comedian Freddie Starr lived in Mappleborough Green for a long time, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was born there - and was told by his secondary school teacher he'd either become a dustman or millionaire.

Around 90 per cent of the world's needles used to be made in the town, and Redditch is famous the world over for its manufacture of fishing tackle and hooks, and also springs.

A proud Redditch tradition spanning back to the beginning of time, Thirsty Thursday is when Redditch natives from 16 to 54 would ramble to one of the two clubs in the town for cheaper drinks before stumbling either home or to the dreaded Warwick.

Every town has it’s occultist myth – Redditch’s place of mythical terror and awe was the ‘Devil’s Ditch’. A large ditch made of red clay (fun fact: the town is thought to be named due to the red clay present at nearby River Arrow) where the legend says the devil would appear at midnight.