The Forge Mill Needle Museum depicts Redditch’s industrial heritage.
Redditch was world famous for needle production – they made 90% of the World’s needles!
The steel for the needles was produced in the Black Country.
The first needle made in the area was recorded in 1639 and reached Redditch itself in 1700. In the 17th and 18th centuries needle making was a cottage industry. During the 18th century however machines arrived on the scene! By 1850 these machines were incorporated under one roof in the new-fangled factory system – people were not happy!
By 1866 there were nearly 100 million needles produced in Britain and Redditch had a monopoly on production. So much so infact that when an area in Japan started making needles, they renamed their region Redditch in order to sell their needles as ‘made in Redditch’! – bit naughty!
The mill started life as an iron forge, but with its 37 hp overshot waterwheel, by 1730 had been converted into the needle scouring forge. And inevitably, a steam engine was added in 1870 to take the strain off the waterwheel!
Needles were, and still are, produced two at a time! Both ends of a piece of wire were pointed and then it was split in the middle to produce 2 needles.
Forge Mill Needle Museum, Needle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch, B98 8HY.
The Forge Mill Needle Museum depicts Redditch’s industrial heritage.
Redditch was world famous for needle production – they made 90% of the World’s needles!
The steel for the needles was produced in the Black Country.
The first needle made in the area was recorded in 1639 and reached Redditch itself in 1700. In the 17th and 18th centuries needle making was a cottage industry. During the 18th century however machines arrived on the scene! By 1850 these machines were incorporated under one roof in the new-fangled factory system – people were not happy!
By 1866 there were nearly 100 million needles produced in Britain and Redditch had a monopoly on production. So much so infact that when an area in Japan started making needles, they renamed their region Redditch in order to sell their needles as ‘made in Redditch’! – bit naughty!
The mill started life as an iron forge, but with its 37 hp overshot waterwheel, by 1730 had been converted into the needle scouring forge. And inevitably, a steam engine was added in 1870 to take the strain off the waterwheel!
Needles were, and still are, produced two at a time! Both ends of a piece of wire were pointed and then it was split in the middle to produce 2 needles.
Forge Mill Needle Museum, Needle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch, B98 8HY.
