Great British Road Journeys - Worcestershire - Redditch to Stourport - Ep. 48

[@guymansfield-smith1135]

The needle museum is almost impossible find, as it is located somewhere within the haystack museum.

[@Eatcrow]

😹

[@stevieandthebarbies]

I ended up asking for directions after the google directions sent me round in a descending spiral of madness.

[@spitfire1962]

Is that the haystack museum incorporated with the Giant Haystacks wrestling museum.

[@grilnam9945]

@@spitfire1962 no that’s 30 miles away in Shirley. 😂

[@andykilvington1651]

@@grilnam9945 Shirley, or Crabtree? 😁😁😁😁

[@imarsden1972]

That private property sign is magnificent.

[@orwellboy1958]

I nearly spat my lunch out.

[@chrisblay]

Well, it’s to the point. 🤣🤣

[@stuartd9741]

Very succinct..

[@barneypaws4883]

The sign was quite clearly designed with efficiency in mind

[@Gordanovich02]

It avoids the need for a rotund gentleman in hi-viz I feel.

[@christineburns5246]

Lickey End AND Bell End all on one trip. We are spoiled!

[@tsl56]

@@christineburns5246 And what about the cave dwellings at .... And the preserved twisted House pub that the new owners decided to completely demolish one awful weekend, and may have to completely rebuild. Admittedly Redditch is a bit of a renowned dump, but I certainly wouldn"t call North Worcs. dull. Especially now they have got rid of the Dudleys

[@MRTransportVideos]

And, not forgotting, you can only have a Lickey End via a Lickey Incline...

[@chrishartley1210]

Surprisingly nowhere near Penistone.

[@Dwagginz]

Christine! What a lovely person to see in the comments, I hope you are well :)

[@christineburns5246]

@ I’m very well thank you. 😀

[@twocvbloke]

"Lickey End - We'll make you come here!"

[@TimAbbott-b4b]

Better than lickey bottom 🍑

[@davidturner4024]

What a filthy mind!😉😂😂😂

[@stuartd9741]

There's always one to lower the tone...🧐 /S

[@applecounty]

Ho ho

[@davidturner4024]

@@stuartd9741 There certainly is.

[@markgr1nyer]

I love the way the sound drops out at John Bonhams grave. So tasteful

[@roberthindle5146]

Wooshtershur sounds lovely!

[@MrPeterhe]

It shur does 😊

[@luddite6239]

As soon as you mentioned Redditch, I wondered I you'd cover Royal Enfield. Despite UK production ceasing in 1971, the brand, now under Indian ownership, has flourished, producing more than 900,000 units in 2023.

[@apdave654]

Also missed out on a reference to Anglepoise (formed out of Terry Springs) who make superb lamps, also now sadly moved out of Redditch. Oh yeah, and Halfords main office is there too, for those who are fans of head offices.

[@madeupname2006]

Growing up in Redditch during the 1980s, there were plenty of interesting things to do, such as visiting the Needle Museum (first school), visiting the Needle Museum (middle school) and even visiting the Needle Museum (high school). Sometimes we were lucky enough to be able to take some time to dutifully stare at the remains of Bordesley Abbey. Wisely, all three schools have since been razed to the ground and covered in housing.

[@jovetj]

You should have visited the Needle Museum, you might have learned something.

[@danielalexander8588]

Did you manage to go to The Needle Museum? If so would you recommend it?

[@markstott6091]

​@danielalexander8588 No. It's a stitch-up.

[@danielalexander8588]

@markstott6091 🤣🤣🤣

[@leeghathaway]

Did you got to Birchensale or Bridley Moor? My wife went to both and they’re both gone. She also went to the needle museum in primary, middle and high school. And if that wasn’t enough she even took me to visit as a fully fledged adult, although they were hosting a shark exhibit that month…

[@colinrobinson7869]

Coming up next the Great British closed museum tour . Keep up the good work John.

[@Sharpey187]

@@colinrobinson7869 ahh it’s always closed, only 4 bits of carpet & a piece of laminate in there anyway

[@grahamfisher5436]

You should visit the museum of closed museums but it's always closed?!

[@edsimnett]

You missed a lot tbh (former resident of Lickey)- there's a monument dedicated to the wonderfully named Other Archer, you were a few hundred yards from where JRR Tolkien lived (he is often thought to have based the Shire on the Lickey Hills), no mention of steepest section of railway in Britain (the Lickey Incline), and too bad you didn't check out Avoncroft (the other side of Bromsgrove) while you were talking about old buildings. Harvington Hall in Kidderminster is a great place to visit (priests holes etc). I could go on...

[@Goldenoldie49]

Totally agree. I love Harvington Hall, and I found all the Priest Holes there.

[@MRTransportVideos]

Agreed, as the Lickey Incline also includes the history of Big Bertha/Emma.

[@jamesmaybrick2001]

@@Goldenoldie49 Agreed. I/we got married in the little church next to it. Lovely place. I didnt know about the priest holes. How my life might have been different if i had known 14 years ago! lol.

[@markstott6091]

​@Goldenoldie49 I was shown all the Priest Holes, but then he was arrested and is now doing 15 years.

[@alantheskinhead]

@@Goldenoldie49 Harvington Hall is a brilliant place to visit for a kid and adults.

[@blisteringbarnaclesmagnets6364]

Hahah I love that private property sign 🧲⚓️👍🤣🤣🤣

[@azza0911]

I pressed the button specifically for that because of the fwicked sweet awesome moment at 5:51

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The canal in Kidderminster has a very unique spot, you stand and look one way and it’s beautiful with a lock, a church and grass area with a red brick wall curving round the corner, it’s a very pretty view, then you turn around and you see Kidderminster, enough said.

[@brnesouthwest9915]

Thank you for covering the Severn Railway for us Railway nerds. 1 out 2 isn't bad! I know you were having a good laugh at Lickey. What you may not have known is between Bromsgrove and Barnt Green is Great Britain's continuation of the steepest railway gradient for over 2 miles, called the Lickey Incline at 1 in 37.7! It required an extra steam engine at the rear of a train to assist it going up the bank in the Pre Diesel age.

[@andykilvington1651]

Yep, great comment! And then there's Shap too (as in summit!)

[@LesD9]

He would have driven under it approaching Burcot.

[@brnesouthwest9915]

@@LesD9 I spotted that on Street View, he would have missed it! Definitely a drone shot would have been required and timed when a freight train was straining up the bank.

[@roberthaydon7973]

You picked a good time to come. Four days of fog we've had. Today was the first time I've seen blue sky since before Christmas. And not sun, just little patches of blue amongst the clouds.

[@roberthaydon7973]

And I agree with you. Having lived round here all my life, bloody boring place. What you did miss though was the bus museum at Wythall.

[@tdyerwestfield]

Lickey End, Bell End and a private property sign. Excellent stuff.

[@ukar69]

Lickey is also home to the Lickey inclne, the steepest sustained main-line railway incline in the UK. It's always been a challenge for trains not only going up, but coming down again.

[@Brian3989]

Climb out of the Vale of the River Severn to enter the grand city of Birmingham, which was once existed as an outer postal area of Bewley, an ancient town on River Severn. Stourport was hardly a spot on the map until the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal was built. Some cargo was brought up river from Bristol up till the 1960s, perhaps 70s.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

I laughed. I am a child. 😁

[@stuierich]

I can't believe you came to Worcestershire and didn't mention the delicious sauce!!!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's from Worcester innit. Next week ;)

[@tsl56]

Made in France for some years. But perhaps the ONE good thing about BREXIT is that it is now made in Worcester again. In the Far East, Worcestershire Sauce is so well known there are numerous local copies. Not too surprising really, since I reckon that Worcestershire Sauce was inspired by asian sauces anyway. But anyone who is anyone here really wants the readily available real thing, Lee & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce; not the locally copied versions popular with the sort of folks who shop in MAKRO (such as myself). In all fairness, L & P's is a much better blend than the local Turkey brand.

[@bikerted1100]

Hi John, really enjoy your road trips. If you go through Redditch again, there is a Royal Enfield memorial plaque and sculpture at their old factory site located on Hewell Street.

[@pilninggas]

Worcestershire is a lovely county [As is Herefordshire].

[@01jvb]

Thanks Jon. Good that you included Stourport - it's an interesting town which is often overlooked.

[@SierraNovemberKilo]

....by drones, apparently.

[@JayD-e2w]

yes.. im now officially a child! cheers.

[@davidioanhedges]

In the feild of standing in a field you are outstanding

[@richardh8082]

Correction:- In 1974 the county of Worcestershire was merged with Herefordshire to form a large single administrative county of Hereford and Worcester which in 1998 was reverted to the original historical counties.

[@tsl56]

The combined Herefordshire and Worcestershire county unit failed miserably because the much higher population of the old Worcestershire bit created a natural majority of Worcester councillors who wanted to keep everything in Worcestershire. That most certainly did not suit Herefordshire's rather xenophobic tories; but actually they had a point.

[@simoncullum5019]

I suppose the needle museum is in the eye of the beholder

[@graemeclifford6358]

prick 🤣

[@bobanob-q2u]

They must need all the visitors they can get.

[@paulsengupta971]

I don't see the point.

[@roberthindle5146]

Darn! You guys have me in stitches!

[@paulsengupta971]

@@roberthindle5146 But these are sew bad.

[@MrBLUEDEVILUK]

Ooh we love a good secret WWII bunker or tunnel complex. Nice work Jon!

[@grahamfisher5436]

Drakelow tunnels were consider to be used for The Central seat of Governments nuclear bunker!! However, it was decided to carry on with installing Burlington bunker at Corsham.

[@patmanrob]

At 0:52 the grey and blue building at the right is the UKs smallest arena by audience capacity. i.e. capacity 0. Fly-by-nite’s arena rehearsal space.

[@darrenkeverne]

Yes, I'm a child. There is also a Bell End in Wollaston and I smile when passing there too... 😊

[@stephenclark2662]

That 'Bell End' sign has been stolen on a number of occasions!

[@grahamross6397]

Some folk go mad for a good Bell End. Large child here, also.

[@robertkeddie]

You're outstanding in your field,Jon. And out standing in a field most weeks.

[@keithposter5543]

Is that you Jethro?

[@MrPete81]

I like the nod to Ringway Manchester's video on SOX lighting at 1:00. Nicely framed shot too 👌

[@jonathanvince7374]

No, thats the only working under pass light in redditch.

[@steve.b.23]

I've just watched RM's video about SOX lighting. He mentions Jon and Auto Shenanigans. Nice way to go full circle.

[@paulsengupta971]

@@steve.b.23 They've done a collaboration before.

[@steve.b.23]

@@paulsengupta971 Have they? I didn't know that. What was the title? I'll go and have a look.

[@paulsengupta971]

@@steve.b.23 Urgh, maybe Jon or Lewis could answer that, I'd have to go back and watch a whole load of videos to be able to find it!

[@theafro]

I love that part of the world, there's a lot of cool old stuff 'round there, and some great roads to drive, and shelsley walsh hillclimb is only round the corner from there too.

[@mickkidston7344]

@2:20 I once saw a car balanced on the Armco of the joining slip road facing the wrong way !!! extreme talent

[@MRTransportVideos]

I can certainly recommend walking between Kidderminster and Stourport via the Canal you mentioned, as the architecture along the route is spectacular, including cutting the canal INTO the hillside, creating some remarkable overhangs (popular with geese looking to shield from the rain).

[@Tim091]

I think walking via a canal is called swimming.

[@MRTransportVideos]

Only if you use the wet bit.

[@davebicker8618]

Indeedy. The canal from the basin at Stourport is quite spectacular. After that, there's the terrifying Batch locks and Bumblehole lock, both of which my bum hole tighten when navigating through.

[@Stoggler]

Thank you for teaching me a new word: toposcope. I’ve often wondered what those plaques in such places are called.

[@simonchapman6068]

I played in a darts match against John Bonham and Robert Plant many years ago.

[@ChrisBrown-px1oy]

Thanks Jon, may you have a good week! The poker face of your guidebook illuminates a sort of "don't ask, don't tell" attitude to industrial England in tourist guidebooks that aimed to be comprehensive at the time, which persisted until well after the second wee tiff (I paraphrase). It tried to balance two principles: you can't ignore a place, but if you can't say something nice, don't say anything. So the 1920s traveller at leisure wouldn't want to visit Redditch but hey, 16,000 people living there can't be wrong. The Little Guides were perhaps the ultimate in topographical editing. A moderate 14th century Easter sepulchre or 12th century font in an indifferent mediaeval church was more likely to get a mention than a Victorian church which is a masterpiece in every way a mile away from it.

[@SuperBartet]

I see you ended the video on that wonderful railway viaduct. A walk from Hartlebury common into the town out on the cannel tow path and then along the old railway and back down to the common, makes a great circular walking route.

[@stuartbridger5177]

Kidderminster, never seem to get through without getting stuck in traffic. Good to see Drakelow featured, excellent musuem.

[@haggielady]

Thanks Jon. Foggy or not, you come through spectacularly.

[@mojosabien]

Another interesting film John thankyou 😊

[@mrose5736]

Midday brew and regular video, a normal Sunday indeed, cheers John

[@anthonydonnelly8419]

Good to see you n my turf, even if did get a somewhat mixed response. The Avoncroft Museum in Bromsgrove is excellent, but closed for winter... Shame you didn't have the time to check it out and stand outside! The Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster is surprisingly good too. Drakelow Tunnels are fascinating. The former janitor was caught doing a bit of 'special-interest' farming a few years back. Good to see SVR in your vlog. Stourport has a stunning Victorian bridge too.

[@Stoggler]

Kidderminster looks lovely!

[@LosAngelesRaiders]

Nice! I live near Stourport myself. You must have passed not too long ago as it's been pretty foggy around here for the last week.

[@ggmtv1394]

I liked the carefully chosen location of a canal and a Matelan sign - it spoke volumes.

[@tangerinedream7211]

Having just left Uni in 1981 i helped out with shopfitting the new Owen Owen store in Redditch new Shopping centre. Remember in a central indoor pedestrian area there were palm trees, probably long since gone .😬

[@brantnuttall]

Thank you for another year of great videos!

[@greenthumb6971]

Long boat lane in stourport follows the original track path of the SVR until you get the main road then you loss it through the house estates and can’t pick it up until you get to the back of Elan avenue with the tunnel and black stone nature reserve

[@Sarge084]

Naming it "Long Boat Lane" sums up the low intellect of the locals! Unless the Vikings dragged a long boat from the sea to Stourport it's unlikely one ever went to Stourport. Now... *narrow boats* were what there were plenty of on the canal that created the town!

[@repairworld2367]

Thanks for coming to my part of the country. I love it round Stourport and surrounding countryside. Plenty of walks.❤

[@visionsinblue7093]

SoS resident here

[@iangrice329]

We're any of the museums closed for winter? That private property sign is just brilliant 👏 👌

[@KenzoQasim223]

I know its a stereotype but I’ve never seen you anywhere with sunshine and I’ve been watching these weekly for a long time now

[@smidsy4747]

Looks like you went past Bell Hall to get to Bell End. It was once home to Lady Godiva.

[@davidmilne5122]

Great episode Jon! Some most excellent damp, graffitied concrete underpass and industrial steelwork action this week.

[@motorsportsfan]

I believe that underpass is Ipsley underpass near St Peters church Ipsley. I used to live just down the road (next underpass) on Matchborough. 😉👍

[@Dwagginz]

Oooh, I think you might be picking a fight this episode, Jon! You said Shrewsbury! Not Shrewsbury! Excellent video as always, plus some trains for those of us of that inclination. Happy New Year to you!

[@rochellehewston9367]

I enjoyed your narrative very much in this one John I spent a few days a couple of years ago staying in Kidderminster right where you described Severn Valley railway always worth a visit. My best recollection of Redditch is completing the Redditch Marathon in the 1980's

[@dominicbarden4436]

Woohoo, my home county! It was fun recognising the places where you were standing. Kidderminster has had several notable residents, including Rowland Hill, who invented the Penny Black and essentially the modern postage system, singer Robert Plant and racing driver Peter Collins, who drove in Formula 1 for Ferrari in the 1950s, winning 3 Grands Prix and finishing 3rd in the 1956 F1 World Championship. He was killed in an accident at the 1958 German GP and is buried in the nearby village of Stone (where I grew up). Very happy to see the Severn Valley Railway mentioned! The line from Hartlebury actually went through Stourport to join the preserved section of the line at Bewdley (which also had a line branch off to Tenbury Wells and joined the Hereford-Shrewsbury line at Woofferton). While the main section of the line to Shrewsbury was closed in 1963, the Bewdley-Kidderminster and Bewdley-Stourport-Hartlebury sections survived until 1970 for passengers and 1982 for freight. The former section is of course now part of the SVR and has been since 1984, while a fair chunk of the latter survives as a footpath from Stourport right up to a demolished bridge by the A449 near Hartlebury. I did not know about the tunnel museum! Might go and check that out at some point.

[@smogmonster1876]

A class 46. I thought all of them had been scrapped. Another great video Jon. Have a wicked sweet awesome new year. Safe travels.

[@BarneyLeith]

I had my first teaching job in Kidderminster in the early 1970s and my wife and I bought our first house there. At certain times the town smelled of damp carpet and in September each year the sickly-sweet stink of sugar beet being rendered pervaded the air. Have boated in and out of Stourport on the Staff & Worcs canal and on the Severn. When my wife and I lived in Kiddie the county was Hereford & Worcester.

[@deathpod1975]

Fantastic Bonham reference. Have you ever considered doing something like a "rock roads" series. Lots of places to visit, the Black Sabbath first album cover, Headley Grange and bron Yr Aur Cottage, Recording Studios etc. Too many to list but a great algorithm. Get a video suggested though a Rick Beato clip and you have some very decent numbers there.

[@whyyoulidl]

Hey MNIJ, thanks again mate - a great 30+ hours for our edutainment 👏🏻👏👏🏿

[@bjk151gray7]

Brilliant content thank you

[@leefaulkner4075]

That beacon hill toposcope was in a episode of Challenge Anneka back in the day, and the late great Pat Roach RiP is buried in bromsgrove

[@stuartd9741]

CA, thats going back some...

[@leefaulkner4075]

​@@stuartd9741 great show

[@stuartd9741]

@@leefaulkner4075 Yep. I also remember Anneka was in a relationship with the producer/camera man? Tom Gutteridge. That buggy had the rover V8 in and apparently it was temperamental...

[@shanemjn]

The other side of the toposcope is a really steep hill we always used to try and run down as kids. We'd always end up tripping and fly arse over tit the rest of the way down. I'd hate to think the injuries I'd get if I were to try that today

[@ChrisBrown-px1oy]

Presumably you don't invite those injuries by chasing cheeses down hills in Gloucestershire (recent video).

[@robbutterill1426]

the four leaf clover interchange. a particularly well liked spot with many superbike enthusiasts and dullards alike👍 also the wetherspoons is a converted art deco cinema and there’s lots of lovely footpaths everywhere that make getting about on foot a breeze. most of redditch was built through the 1960’s up to the early 90’s and so many of the landmarks and areas wouldnt appear on the 1923 guidebook as it was a lot more rural than it is now!

[@shannonschneider8413]

At 2:50 is that Bill bailey,he IS a wizard

[@marjon1703]

Looks like Bill Baily to me. Or should I say The Great Supremo Baily...

[@allencevans]

Welcome back to Redditch, it really isn't that bad! I suspect this was filmed in the last few days, since we've been so foggy of late!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah thought I'd try filming in the stupidest fog we've ever had. very meh... Thanks for watching.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

Nearby Stourbridge would have had a music reference for those of us that aren't quite dodging as many coffins yet, being the home to Pop Will Eat Itself and Ned's Atomic Dustbin.

[@keithposter5543]

Not forgetting Bathchair Suicide!

[@toll5320]

Beard meets food and now auto shenanigans, Kidderminster is massive

[@WatchingtheWorldBurning]

My neck of the woods. I used to do schoolboy motox with Jason, John Bonham’s son. I first met his Dad at a practice track at Heightington. I chatted with him all day and had no idea who he was until my Dad (also a drummer) picked me up in the afternoon and said, “Do you know who that is…?” Cool chap.

[@theblower069]

Another very good video Jon Truly loving this series. May i wish you a Happy New Year. Take care.

[@justincatterall9597]

Good stuff, as usual, John. Thank you for your contributions to 'things to watch instead of repetetive Christmas telly'.

[@jennielear]

Haha I grew up in Belbroughton next to Bell End! You missed a trick not passing thru Twatling Road!! 😂

[@paulsengupta971]

If there's a Twatling road in Bell End, I'd be surprised they'd get any post at all. A postal worker would just look at the address, assume it was bogus and just bin it!

[@stuierich]

Belbroughton is considered quite posh if you are from Bromsgrove Jennie!

[@jennielear]

@ our weekly shop was always a trip to bromsgrove back in those days!!

[@jennielear]

@@paulsengupta971 it’s quite near Lickey End!!

[@haggielady]

Being American, I love English place names. You lot don't change them to something more proper.

[@robertdickson8807]

It seems like your wonderful road journeys are also an obituary to British industry.

[@chriswalford4161]

Okay; Whooshtershire! Great. How have I never thought of that before.

[@raynarnslr1966]

Yay, my neck of the woods, have to have a look at the tunnel system! Licky End, Bell End 😂😂😂. Happy New Year and safe travels Jon.

[@roderickmain9697]

Kidderminster station. When I first visited the Severn Valley railway something was "happening" but it looked like they just cleared and leveled a former goods yard. The SVR rail line didnt reach Kidderminster. A couple of years later and my return visit boasted the station you see today - instant "old" station. Good job SVR. Recommend a day out on the line to anyone.

[@jagman84]

Stourport had an SVR branch though. You can see where it approached the town, crossing the River Stour and canal, then Burlish crossing cottage, near to the Station site.

[@mevarangian1207]

You called it; I'm a child. still sniggering. thank you Jon.

[@alexsingleton2144]

Have a happy new year Jon 🎉

[@minibus9]

aawesome video, loved that priavte property sign

[@gordonprice8195]

Sunday made. Thank you John!!!🎉

[@RichardB_Uk]

Grew up near the lickeys and spent time in most of the areas covered .

[@Nobby76]

Can confirm there is bugger all in Redditch, bromsgrove and kidderminster, esp not in the last 20 years Have lived in Redditch for the last 20 years. I grew up in Droitwhich (also part of worcester) in the 70's Lived in bromsgrove as a teen, used to go to the lickey hills all the time as a teen to play "tracking" and now i go there to walk the dog a couple of times a month.. Used to live in kidderminster as a teen for a bit as well, but used to go there a lot when lived in bromsgrovel, always headed into town for Forest Glades leasure center, the pool had a wave machine and 2 water slides!! (i was there the night the kid fell out of the slide) But also my dad worked in kiddi so i used to be there a little bit. Although each town was know for its thing, redditch was needles, bromsgrove being nails, kiddi being carpet. Each town was so vibrant back then.. Bromsgrove highstreet was brilliant back in the late 80's early 90's.. They had the indoor market, there was a toy shop where we bought our marbles from, a shop that sold train sets, scalectrix and RC cars, an arcade, a few places to get food. And then a whole variety of different shops ranging from electrical, woollies, C&A, to (as we called it) the "Hologram shop" which sold posters, arty paintings in frames and proper hologram images on plate glass, rather than the cheap plastic ones you get these days. But now when you go back the highstreet is like a ghost town, its just empty, nobody is ever there. Half the shops are just closed and the ones that do remain are either pound shops, charity shops or takeaways..

[@thehound9638]

I've seen a lot of England and to tell you the truth every old high street is dead in virtually every town. With supermarkets out of town shopping malls and internet shopping there simply isn't a future for the high street now. I really don't think it will ever rejuvenate.

[@paulqueripel3493]

Pratchett used Licky End as a disease found only in sheep and one talking dog in the Discworld books.

[@memyselfandeye1234]

Quality .... Those Bits Without The "music" ...... Are Sublime.... Privet Property Sing Is Epic... peace

[@johnawalker9261]

@@memyselfandeye1234 I didn’t hear it “singing”!😀

[@johnawalker9261]

Glad to hear that you pronounced Kidderminster correctly.😊

[@vincentcrowley1362]

"The B4096 will take us into the village of Lickey End. That's a silly name, isn't it, and the only reason that we've come here"😂😂

[@stuartd9741]

That and Bell end..which ,I confess, I laughed at... Can you imagine having letters addressed : bell end...🧐

[@markstott6091]

​@@stuartd9741All my letters are addressed to Bell End. Bit harsh, I thought...

[@andykilvington1651]

@@markstott6091 That made me laugh out loud!

[@alexsingleton2144]

I may have to go there for that clover leaf junction.....

[@andykilvington1651]

Excellent episode as always, but splitting hairs, Worcestershire did exist as a County historically. I can remember as a kid my Auntie bought me a jigsaw puzzle of the UK counties, which I loved, and which had both Worcestershire and Herefordshire as separate entities, later to become Hereford and Worcester in 1974, following The Local Government Act of 1972, which was as you rightly say changed again in the Local Government Act of of 1998.

[@charlesstorey8425]

That private property f*%k off sign had me expecting a tubby security guy to appear 😂

[@philipellis7039]

The needle museum in Redditch is small (well, as you might expect) but quite interesting so shame it was closed. The town does have a suburb called Headless Cross which might be of passing interest to Black Sabbath fans. I think that’s it for Redditch. Wait…no that’s it. Not much left of the Longbridge factory apart from a few rusty sheds waiting to be pulled down. It’s mostly housing now (with car themed road names) and a shopping centre. There is a longish (100 metres maybe) stretch of overhead track that was used to move parts between sheds still on view and about the only thing that suggests it was once a busy area. There is a large retirement village there as well which I have half an eye on as my decrepitude increases, it’s on Austin Way (see, told you).

[@madeupname2006]

Per the website, the Needle Museum is re-opening in Feb. 2025.

[@vastariner]

"I once went to Redditch. It was shut." -Jasper Carrott

[@nozhki-busha]

Redditch isnt that bad a place to live, lots of nice parks and greenery, with good motorway links. I lived in Redditch most of my life, bar a decade in London until I moved back and I am very happy to be home again. There is a nice stature of John Bonham in the town centre worth checking out too.

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

You should have stopped for a refresher at Bell End Service Station. 😊

[@TheAde71]

As a lifelong resident of Bromsgrove,I can concur it’s lacking.Some reconstructed nail workshops are at avoncroft museum of buildings,of course closed for winter. Drakelow tunnels got opened to the public in 1994 and I was part of the very first people to go in on a guided tour.many years later I played airsoft in there,so I had a good mooch around whilst shooting people 😊. That junction on the B4096 I use every day,and usually every couple of years the crash barrier gets repaired because of a crash. My place of work is in the last remnant of the Royal Enfield factory,it was the canteen I believe. The thing on beacon hill was an anti aircraft gun/searchlight emplacement and before it was made into a “castle”,you could see the ring of bolts concreted in for the gun mount

[@benthewheel30]

Thank you for going on my home roads

[@bryemycaz]

Bit of a Misty Mountain Hop this week.

[@Fairyfink]

Some refer to my adopted home of Redditch as 'Ditch'. Yhought you'd like to know that. Thanks for visiting.

[@Eric_L456]

Great video as always.

[@vincentcrowley1362]

Jon, your sense of humour just gets better week on week.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Glad to hear, I'm ill at the moment and thought this episode was "lacking" in all departments.