Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey

Visitor Centre

13th & 14th JuneMedieval Weekend

29th AugustOutdoor Theatre Treasure Island

5th September - 25th OctoberShared SpacesBy the Stitch in the Middle Group

The theme for this year’s exhibition from the contemporary quilt artists was based on an inspirational tour of Coventry Cathedral with a guide who focused on the art of that iconic building. The theme was then widened to include other sacred spaces. This exhibition shows how a group of talented textile artists responded to an emotive subject in a unique & dramatic way.

13th SeptemberHeritage Day

28th October -22nd November75 years ago: The end of WW2An exhibition by the Redditch Local History SocietyIn 1945 Redditch, along with communities throughout the world, heaved a sigh of relief after 6 years of conflict & celebrated the end of the Second World War. This is, arguably, the most important event in the living history of Redditch & to mark this momentous time the Redditch Local History Society exhibition looks at this period & the part played by our town.

• Specialist textile centre

• Historical buildings & excavations

• National collections• Exhibitions & events• Activities & fun days• Children’s play area

Forge Mill 2020

forgemill.org.uk01527 62509

&

5th & 6th DecemberXmas Craft Fair

OPENING TIMESFEBRUARY TO MARCHTuesday - Friday: 11am - 4pm Weekends: 1pm - 4pmAPRIL TO SEPTEMBERMonday - Friday: 11am - 4.30pm Weekends: 11am - 4pmOCTOBER TO 25 NOVEMBERTuesday - Friday: 11am - 4pm Weekends: 1pm - 4pmLast admission 1 hour before closing time.MUSEUM CLOSED FROM 22ND NOVEMBER.REOPENS 2ND FEBRUARY 2021.

ADMISSION RATESADULTS: £6.00 CHILDREN: £2.10FAMILY TICKET: £14.00

Admission includes 3 FREE return visits in 2020 (excludes events) see website for details

FACILITIESThe museum has ample parking, toilets, a shop,large play area & picnic tables throughout the grounds. Bicycle stands are available at the visitor centre. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed inside the museum.• The waterwheel & machinery operate March -

October. (1pm Tuesdays & Weekends barring mechanical failure).

• Guided tours of the mill every Tuesday, April - September at 12pm.

• Abbey tours, first Thursday of the month, April - September at 11.30am.

• Venue hire available for weddings & private parties.

DISABLED FACILITIESThe museum has designated car parking, toilet, & manual wheelchair available. Hearing loop & guides in Braille & large type on request. An interactive guide is available for the top floor displays.

CONTACT USFORGE MILL & BORDESLEY ABBEY VISITOR CENTRENeedle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch, B98 8HY

01527 62509www.forgemill.org.ukinfo@forgemill.org.uk

GET 3 FREERETURN VISITS*SEE BACK PAGE FOR DETAILS

©Lee Bradley

25th July - 1st SeptemberA Journey into MarvelAn exhibition by Lee BradleyLee Bradley is one of the top comic book artists in the country. He has worked on many of the iconic superheroes & best - loved characters of our generation like Spiderman, Transformers, Star Wars & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. His work is influenced by the classic Marvel & DC artwork from his childhood. This is a great chance to see Lee’s powerful & vibrant work close up.

©Lee Bradley

FORGE MILLTells the fascinating & sometimes gruesome story of needle making in Victorian times. The Mill is a listed building which houses original water-powered machinery. Models & recreated scenes provide a vivid illustration of how needles were once made & how Redditch came to dominate the world needle trade. The museum was opened by the Queen in 1983.Step back in time & experience the atmosphere of a Victorian needle polishing mill. The scouring mill is the only one of its kind remaining in the world.

CONTEMPORARY TEXTILESTo celebrate our association with needles, Forge Mill regularly hosts textile exhibitions. Please see our website for more details.

GIFT SHOPThe museum has a superb shop selling souvenirs & a wide selection of high quality needles. We stock unusual needles & offer a mail order service.

PLAY AREAThe site has an attractive & well-equipped play area for young visitors, including an extensive sandpit.

COFFEE BARApril to end of May: Tuesdays & Weekends, 11am - 3pmJune - 13th September: Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 3pm

Just a short walk from the Mill are the Medieval ruins of Bordesley Abbey, once a thriving Cistercian Abbey. The site has been extensively excavated & many of the archaeological finds can now be seen in the Visitor Centre in which the story of the Abbey is told; from its early development to its destruction in the 16th Century by Henry VIII, during the Dissolution.

INTERACT!Discover the stories behind the stones & experience the Bordesley Abbey site brought back to life!Find out more about the Abbey by searching for symbols, playing games & doing quizzes on our interactive tablets.

BORDESLEY ABBEY

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS1st February - 8th MarchArt at The MillAn exhibition by members of the local Redditch Art CircleRedditch Art Circle are extremely proud to be showcasing the talents of their members who are local artists from Redditch & the surrounding areas. The exhibition shows the diversity of subject matter & a variety of mediums from pastels, paintings & pottery to needle felt art. The group have produced between them an outstanding body of work – it’s a real inspiration for all budding artists.

13th March - 19th AprilResistance StitchAn exhibition by James Fox

In this exhibition, James uses his art to investigate & challenge our expectations regarding gender roles, work, class divide, culture & other aspects of our social & personal lives. Primarily using machine embroidery & reverse applique techniques, James revels in the juxtaposition of pattern with themes to create his exceptional wall hangings. He has created an exhibition that is visually stunning, intelligent & thought-provoking.

10th & 11th April - Easter Egg Hunt

24th April - 31st MayFabric of LifeBy Threaded Together Textile GroupThe group’s concept for this body of work is to reflect their own life journey & to echo that in what they create. Each fabric has been carefully chosen for the individual emotion it provokes. The exhibition includes themes relating to: the natural world, literary inspiration & vintage fabrics. This is an inspirational exhibition for all textile enthusiasts.

9th MayNational Mills Day

5th June - 19th JulyPolar ExpressionsAn exhibition by Sandra MeechSandra is very well known for all her art/textile work on the Polar Regions. This exhibition is the culmination of her 20 years of focus on the Arctic & Inuit culture in Northern Canada. Her striking textile work is a celebration of the magnificent glaciers & icebergs of the Antarctic & Iceland that she has seen on her travels. This exhibition captures the beauty, amazing colours & uniqueness of the Arctic lands.