Redditch

Related Topics:
Redditch_United :: Redditch

Shown within Worcestershire

Borough of Redditch
Geography
Status:	Borough
Region:	West Midlands
Admin. County:	Worcestershire
Area: - Total	Ranked 295th 54.25 km²
Admin. HQ:	Redditch
ONS code:	47UD
Geographic coordinates:
Demographics
Population: - Total () - Density	Ranked / km²
Ethnicity:	94.8% White 2.7% S.Asian
Politics
Redditch Borough Council http://www.redditchbc.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive (2006):
MP(2006):	Jacqui Smith

Redditch is a town and local government district in Worcestershire, England, just south of (but not part of) the West Midlands urban area and lies on the A441, a trunk road from Birmingham to Studley. Notably, the Roman Road known as Icknield Street is prominent as it runs North to South through the eastern side of the town. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005, and is currently (2006) represented in Parliament by Jacqui Smith.

History

The first recorded mention of Redditch ("Red-Dych ", thought to be a reference to the red clay of the nearby River Arrow) is in 1348, the year of the outbreak of the Black Death. During the Middle Ages it became a centre of needle-making and later prominent industries were fish-hooks, fishing tackle, motorcycles (see Royal Enfield below) and springs, the latter notably by Herbert Terry and Sons. It was designated a new town in 1964 and the population increased dramatically from 32,000 to around 77,000. Entire new estates such as Church Hill, Matchborough, Oakenshaw, Winyates, Lodge Park and Woodrow were created to accommodate the large overspill from an industrially expanding Birmingham. Today needle-making has been replaced by modern light industry, with Redditch also functioning as a dormitory town for Birmingham. With the redevelopment of the flagship Kingfisher Shopping Centre in 2002 Redditch is undergoing an economic and cultural renaissance.

Transport

Located in the heart of England, Redditch is an ideal point of departure for destinations in the surrounding region. The M42 motorway is a short drive away and it is linked by dual carriageways and A-class roads to surrounding towns such as Bromsgrove and Evesham. There are regular bus services to Studley, Bromsgrove, Catshill and Birmingham.

The Cross-City Line provides a regular train service via Birmingham New Street to Lichfield. Redditch railway station, the southern terminus of the line, was first opened as the terminus of the Redditch Railway on September 19, 1859, alongside what is now Clive Road. This first station stayed until May 4 1868 when the last section from Alcester to Redditch of the Redditch and Evesham Railway was opened, when a second station was built alongside the junction of Bromsgrove Road and Plymouth Road. This station was provided with a standard Midland Railway design and two platforms. The current station is now however a shadow of its former self.

There is an extensive network of local bus services run by First and other operators (including Pete's travel). Many services run from the bus station in the town centre, a postcard of which was voted Britain's most boring postcard in a competition run by the photographer Martin Parr. The bus station was rebuilt as part of the 2002 shopping centre expansion.

Redditch is locally well known for its confusing road system dominated by a system of dual carriageways built when it became a New Town. Due to their similar appearance drivers easily become disorientated, although the story of an elderly couple admitted to hospital with severe dehydration after spending more than sixty hours trying to navigate the highway system is an urban legend. Redditch was briefly famous for a tongue-in-cheek calendar featuring its "picturesque" roundabouts created by a local printing company, which proved so successful it has sparked a national series (http://www.roundaboutsofbritain.com/).

Education

Redditch is unusual in the United Kingdom, in that it works on a three-tier, rather than a two-tier, education system - Instead of students progressing from a primary school to a secondary school, they go through three schools - a 'First School', a 'Middle School', and a High School. Although attempts have been made to change the system to two-tier, opposition from students and parents resulted in the plans being dropped, but not before several other schools were closed, including the academically successful Bridley Moor High School.

Places of Interest

Bordesley Abbey: remains of a former Cistercian abbey, later used as a Royal Swannery.
Forge Mill Needle Museum: exhibition of traditional needle making

Kingfisher Shopping Centre

The Kingfisher Shopping Centre, opened in 1978, is the town's primary retail centre and was well-known for its palm trees in the centre's Worcester Square. The original trees and their accompanying fountain, have been removed by the Centre's management after health and safety fears relating to the age of the trees which were nearly thirty years old. However more appropriate palm trees were planted following after the works completed. The centre is also well known for its large mosaic panels designed by famous Scottish artist and sculptor, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. The centre has over 1.1 million square feet of retail space making it one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom (11th in 2005.)

Arrow Valley Park

Redditch benefits from 900 acres of public open space in Arrow Valley Park (also known as Arrow Valley Country Park). This incorporates the 27 acre Arrow Valley Lake, popular for dinghy sailing and fishing. The lake is home to Redditch Sailing Club (racing up to 14ft boats) and the Youth Afloat initiative, which provides sailing experience for children would not otherwise have the opportunity. Arrow Valley Park was recognised with a Civic Trust Green Flag Award in 2005 and has a visitor's centre which is open most days. The lake is fed from the River Arrow.

Royal Enfield motorcycles

Redditch was the home of the Royal Enfield motorcycle. This is where the main factory of the original company was located. It kept manufacturing through the sixties, the last model being the Interceptor. In the mid fifties the Company established a partner Madras in India, who manufactured the Bullet model. The Indian factory is still very successful, with new Indian models. It has taken Royal Enfield into its third century of manufacturing. The English manufacturing ended in 1970. A few of the original factory buildings still remain and are part of the Enfield Industrial Estate.

Notable residents

John Bonham (1948–1980) of Led Zeppelin was born in Redditch.
Rik Mayall (1958–) (comedian) spent his early life in Redditch.
Charles Dance (1946–) (actor) was born in Redditch
Ruth England (1970–) (TV presenter) was educated in Redditch.
Raymond Thompson (scriptwriter and TV producer) was born in Redditch.

Local Dialect

Due to its geographical location Redditch was isolated from the Worcestershire vernacular, instead developing a distinguishable local mode of speech which owes more to the influence of nearby Warwickshire and Birmingham. The establishment of Redditch as a new town and the accompanying influx of migrants from the West Midlands area, along with the influence of national television, mean that particularly amongst the younger generation virtually all traces of a local dialect have been lost.

Town twinning

The first twinning of Redditch began in 1956, with a link formed to Auxerre in Burgundy, France. This twinning proved sufficently popular to form an organisation named The Friends of Auxerre (FoA). At the beginning of June each year the connection of these two towns is officially celebrated.

In 1986 the second twinning of Redditch was formed, connecting to Mtwara in Tanzania. Frequent events are organised with assistance from the community of Tanzanian students at Birmingham University and Selly Oak College.