{"id":5457,"date":"2025-08-30T12:49:43","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T11:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/?page_id=5457"},"modified":"2026-01-24T18:00:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T18:00:18","slug":"bnc-archives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/bnc-archives\/","title":{"rendered":"BNC Archives"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Heading” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_heading title=”The British Needle Company Archives” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The museum holds a large archive pertaining to the British Needle Company, but the photographs came separately in the form of two albums which had been rescued by a former employee of the company.<\/p>\n

The albums were passed on to a local historian, Alan Foxall, who then offered them for sale, and they were subsequently bought for the museum by the Friends of Forge Mill.<\/p>\n

These photographs offer a unique snapshot into the life of a Redditch needle company showing how the company evolved and prospered over four decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s. The workers are named, and the images show the job that they are doing. To give a direct comparison of how the company modernised, the photographs are grouped together showing the main needlemaking processes in a more logical way than was originally presented in the albums.<\/p>\n

To give a slightly more rounded picture of the company we have used the museum\u2019s own archives to delve a little deeper into certain facets of the company\u2019s life. What is revealed is their passion, belief and pride in their own products, and care and interest in the welfare of their workforce.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.forgemill.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/wcnm-logo.png” alt=”Worshipful Company of Needlemakers” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Image – WCNM Logo” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70%” animation_style=”slide” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”90%” text_orientation=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

This archive project was kindly sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Search” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_search exclude_pages=”on” placeholder=”Search these archives…” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#eeeeee” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_search][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Heading: Process” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_heading title=”The Process of Making Needles” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”20″ include_categories=”21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32″ excerpt_length=”200″ show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_pagination=”off” admin_label=”Blog – Process” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_color_all=”#dddddd” border_width_all_image=”1px” border_color_all_image=”#dddddd” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Heading: Company” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_heading title=”The Company, Staff and Related Items” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”20″ include_categories=”39,34,33,35,36,37,38,40″ excerpt_length=”200″ show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_color_all=”#dddddd” border_width_all_image=”1px” border_color_all_image=”#dddddd” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#8f1d3d” custom_padding=”80px|||” top_divider_style=”wave2″ top_divider_color=”#e0e0e0″ global_module=”491″ collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ module_class=”tj-footerarea” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – What to see” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font_size=”24px” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

WHAT TO SEE<\/h3>\n

Forge Mill<\/a>
Bordesley Abbey<\/a>
Visitor Centre<\/a><\/p>\n

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WHAT TO DO<\/h3>\n

Events<\/a>
Exhibitions<\/a>
Play Area<\/a>
Walking Trail<\/a>
Workshops<\/a>
Talks<\/a>
Education<\/a><\/p>\n

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YOUR VISIT<\/h3>\n

Opening Hours<\/a>
Admission Prices<\/a>
Directions<\/a>
Shop<\/a>
Facilities<\/a>
Accessibility<\/a>
Group Visits<\/a>
Downloads<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – About Us” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ header_font_size=”24px” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

ABOUT US<\/h3>\n

Meet the Staff<\/a>
Volunteers<\/a>
Venue Hire<\/a>
Museum Archives<\/a>
Archives Catalogue<\/a>
Family Trees<\/a>
Contact Us<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_2,1_4″ module_class=”tj-footerarea” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Address” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

01527 62509<\/h1>\n

Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre
Needle Mill Lane
Riverside
Redditch
B98 8HY

Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p>\n

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PROUD TO BE PART OF<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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