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Ellerdene Close, REDDITCH, B98 7PW

Coldfield Drive provides connections between the new town and the former village of Headless Cross. On the left some houses in Guinness Close have a frontage to Coldfield Drive.

Redditch new town has its own network of shared pedestrian and cycle paths, crossing and connecting with roads at the many subways.

The view is from a bank above the junction with Headless Cross Drive, one of the village's connections to the new town. On the right is a glimpse of roofs in the Park Farm and Lakeside industrial estates in the Arrow valley.

Kitchen designers established in 2007. In the recent past the premises were occupied by Knotts of Redditch, who were motorcycle & scooter dealers here. Back in the very early 1920's, and maybe later, there was a bicycle shop here.

When this photograph was taken late in June 2013 the pub was temporarily closed. It was formerly the Dog & Pheasant which had, it seems, rather a mixed reputation. The new owners were still working on the building, with the aim of improving what the pub offered. The new name is part of its new image. Image Image

The pub's new name appears on the front of the building, as well as on the side, which is what is photographed here. The name probably relates to the Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch, which illustrates the heritage of the needle and fishing tackle industries. Redditch once produced 90% of the world's needles, and in Headless Cross itself there were once three needle factories. Image Image

When photographed in late Jun 2013, the pub was shortly due to re-open under its new name of the Forge Mill. Image Image

"The piece of Evesham Road from where Yvonne Road is now to Vaynor Drive was very narrow and dark. There were huge trees on either side of the road, only one gas lamp and a little stream on the left hand side. We always called it 'The Folly'. You didn't go up there after dark. When my older sister went out in the evening , my father would say, 'Don't you go up the Folly'. Behind the Dorothy Terry Residential Home a small close has been built and the Councillors were recently required to find a name for it. We called it 'The Folly' to commemorate the old name." Albert Wharrad in 'Old Redditch Voices' by Anne Bradford, 2005. Notice the big building site on the left with its long-jibbed crane, apparently remotely-controlled.

The modern water tower is a landmark, built as it is on the highest point in the town Image