Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre
Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre
Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch is an unusual and fascinating place to visit. This historic site illustrates the rich heritage of the needle and fishing tackle industries. Models and recreated scenes provide a vivid illustration of how needles were once made, and how Redditch once produced 90% of the world’s needles. On the same site, just a very short walk from Forge Mill Museum, are the ruins of Bordesley Abbey – a medieval Cistercian Abbey which has been extensively excavated. Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre, which is set in an original reconstructed 16th century barn, tells the extraordinary story of the Abbey from its development in the 12th century to its destruction in 1538 by Henry VIII during the dissolution. Coffee Bar opening hours January/February 10am - 2pm
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4.5
215 reviews
Excellent
124
Very good
74
Average
12
Poor
2
Terrible
3
marilynparrish23
Brentwood, UK11 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Absolutely fascinating real hidden gem. Never realised all the different types of needles or how they are made. As for darts tips from gramophones needles so very interesting & educational just proves you are never to old to learn. Admission price very reasonable
Written 7 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, we are glad you enjoyed your visit and discovering the history of Reddith's industrial heritage - there are so many uses and different types of needles, almost too many to display! We hope to see you again soon.
Written 12 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vic B
5 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We enjoyed looking at all the different types of needles, and the video explaining the process of making them. There was also a quilt exhibition which was very interesting. The basement was very realistic , set out as if it was still a workplace. We didn't get to see everything because of time, and also it was a very cold wet and windy day and we got quite chilled in the basement. But that was just the weather's fault!
Written 27 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are glad that you enjoyed your visit and that you enjoyed the latest exhibition. Our exhibitions are always changing throughout the year so we hope you will come back and visit us again. Thank you for your feedback, maybe we are creating too realistic an experience in the basement so will ensure the heating is on!
Written 2 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard E
Egremont, UK216 contributions
Feb 2023
I really enjoyed this delightful is small museum. I had little or no idea of the history of needles and fishing hooks. Thank you to the staff for being helpful and informative.
Written 22 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Richard, we are glad you enjoyed the museum and that we were able to 'hook' you in! Do come back and visit us soon, our exhibitions on the gallery floor are regaulary changing so there is always something new to see!
Written 28 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stu151
Wickford, UK1,569 contributions
Oct 2022
If you're interested in the Industrial Heritage of this country, this will interest you - if not, you'll be totally bored !
Small museum, nicely laid out, covering the various processes/working conditions used to manufacture needles/fish hooks etc (once a major industry in the Reddich area).
Interesting, if out dated videos.
Needs to be updated, especially the videos/presentation, but (as always) I guess this is about funds/number of visitors.
Upstairs display area, with various craft connected exhibitions
(We visited on a Saturday morning, the only 2 people there the whole time - if this type of museum is to have a future it needs to be better supported. One such way is the Art fund - which, for whatever reason, they are not part of).
Small museum, nicely laid out, covering the various processes/working conditions used to manufacture needles/fish hooks etc (once a major industry in the Reddich area).
Interesting, if out dated videos.
Needs to be updated, especially the videos/presentation, but (as always) I guess this is about funds/number of visitors.
Upstairs display area, with various craft connected exhibitions
(We visited on a Saturday morning, the only 2 people there the whole time - if this type of museum is to have a future it needs to be better supported. One such way is the Art fund - which, for whatever reason, they are not part of).
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Stu, thank you for your feedback. Our museum not only covers the history of needle making in Redditch but also the archeology of Bordersley Abbey in the building adjacent to the gift shop which i hope you got a chance to see too!
Whilst our muesuem may be niche, we have an active prohgramme of events and acitivies throughout the better months, host various workshops and site hires, run forrest school activities, have a wonderful (new!) playground and a lovely coffee bar offering delicious locally made cakes!
We are operated by Rubicon Leisure who look after and run the leisure and cultural facilities in the town - being part of a wider group means we have a stable and positive future ahead.
We do hope you visit us again soon to see what else we can offer!
Written 28 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dragonara2
Honiton, UK443 contributions
Sep 2022
There's so much more to these smaller museums than people would imagine, helpful guides explained how the process worked, info boards & exhibits depicted the sometimes short lives of the workers, my husband particularly enjoyed the display of Royal Enfields. We had never appreciated how much work went into producing even one needle let alone thousands. we had coffee at the kiosk, plenty of parking & a small shop in the reception area.
Written 13 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely feedback, we hope to see you again.
Written 18 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pelupi
Leeds, United Kingdom118 contributions
Sep 2022
Unexpected gem. Fascinating place. We have an eclectic taste in museums from prehistoric to just about anything and thought we'd pop in as it was an area of the country and industry we hadn't experienced before. ..also there was an abbey adjacent we wanted to view. The exhibits and explanations were amazing. Far more there than meets the eye. A treasure trove of history, both industrial and social. Some of it brought back poignant memories of sewing equipment I remember my mother and grandmother using. Allow plenty of time if you come here - you'll get dragged into the detailed exhibits. One of the best industrial museums we've been to.
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such lovely feedback, we're glad that you enjoyed your visit.
Written 18 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travel796715
44 contributions
Aug 2022
Avery pleasant little museum showing the finishing off of needles. The video was very good and the workshops were small but very interesting
Written 22 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. As part of your Three free return visits we also have the Bordesley Abbey visitor centre open and change our exhibitions on a regular basis should you wish to visit again.
Written 31 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mary E
Aldridge, UK55 contributions
Jul 2022
Although I’d live close by until I married I had never visited the museum - what a mistake. The artifacts on display are well documented. Whilst we were viewing the exhibits a museum employee came up to us to let us know there was a guided tour about to start if we wanted to join it. We did and were a lot more knowledgeable at the end of a tour we wouldn’t possibly otherwise have done. The museum has been left exactly as it was when it closed in 1953/4. It has also accumulated a few cobwebs since then. The number of needles that were produced by hand was amazing with, I think, about 90% of the worlds needle production being done in Redditch - that is quite an amazing fact. The range of needles produced - not just sewing but surgical, fishing, furnishing and many others was an eye opener. Would thoroughly recommend a visit.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely feedback, we're glad that you enjoyed your visit.
If you would like to keep updated with our current events/exhibitions we update our website and Facebook on a regular basis.
Written 31 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bikerbabe009
Leamington Spa, UK108 contributions
Jun 2022
Plenty to look at and lots of information. Very interesting. Well laid out. Childrens play area, nice grounds. And they have various events throughout the year.
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are also on social media should you want to keep updated with our up and coming events.
Written 31 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hopalong6845
cambridgeshire162 contributions
Jun 2022
A real insight as to how needles, fishing hooks etc were made.
A lovely little museum providing a host of information.
Tea roams available also. Friendly staff.
A lovely little museum providing a host of information.
Tea roams available also. Friendly staff.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such lovely feedback, we're glad you enjoyed your visit.
Written 19 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
suzywong57
Worcester, UK63 contributions
Can you just walk round the grounds
Thank you for your question. Yes, the site is open to walk around and the adjacent meadows are a lovely walk too.
happyhairdays94
West Midlands, UK15 contributions
Dog friendly?
David S
Great Malvern, UK710 contributions
Not practical to have a dog inside this museum
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Claim your listingFORGE MILL NEEDLE MUSEUM & BORDESLEY ABBEY VISITOR CENTRE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre
- Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 - 16:00
- Hotels near Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre:
- (0.19 mi) Premier Inn Redditch North (A441) hotel
- (0.56 mi) Meadow Farm by Marston's Inns
- (0.63 mi) Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - Redditch, an IHG Hotel
- (0.60 mi) Abbey Hotel
- (1.85 mi) Old Rectory House & The Orangery
- Restaurants near Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre:
- (0.19 mi) Redditch Beefeater
- (0.39 mi) Ollie's Eatery - Bar
- (0.25 mi) Sainsbury`s Cafe
- (0.68 mi) Rilys
- (0.73 mi) Shahi Palace