Worcestershire County Council’s Archive and Archaeology Service is hosting the event celebrating the archives of Redditch New Town.
New Towns were part of a visionary plan developed in the aftermath of World War II, aimed at rebuilding Britain and offering a fresh start to those living in overcrowded or war-damaged cities.
Redditch joined the ranks of these New Towns in April 1964 as part of a later wave of development, transforming from a small settlement into the community today.
The event will be taking place on Saturday, September 14 2024, at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre between 10am and 4pm.
The event will feature talks from the archivists who brought this project to life. Their talks at 11am and 2pm will give guests a unique glimpse into the process of urban planning and public health during Redditch’s development era.
People can explore an exhibition that delves deep into Redditch’s journey from a small settlement of 32,000 to a thriving town of over 77,000 residents by the 1980’s
Guests can also share their memories of Redditch’s development on our memory board, trace your place in history with maps from the development era, and bring children along for some fun colouring activities.
Archivist Vicky Fletcher said: “We’re really excited to be in Redditch to share these wonderful collections with local people.
“It has been a fantastic project to work on, the records provide insight into the process of urban and public health planning. We hope the event will inspire people to find out more about the history of where they live. ”
This event marks the completion of an ambitious project to catalogue the records of the Redditch Development Corporation, shedding light on the town’s remarkable transformation, as part of the New Jerusalems Project, funded by the Wellcome Trust.