THE newly re-furbished St Philip’s Church in Webheath is the backdrop for a new photo and model exhibition of the Redditch of days gone by, set up by Redditch History and Heritage Group.

The exhibition is choc-a-bloc with illustrations and depictions of Webheath, Headless Cross and the old town centre, the highlight of which is a model of Evesham Street as it used to be in days long gone.

Family, social and the town’s industrial history are all on show, including the original Washford Mills, motorcycle, springs and fishing tackle factories, the Midland Red Bus Station and the old Fire Station which once stood where the town hall now is.

Many of the models have been developed by local modeller, John Maries.

Philip Jarvis, organiser, said: “The inside of the Webheath church has been completely re-vamped and now gives a most impressive and welcoming exhibition space.

“It seems really fitting that this should be the venue for so much local history. We hope that lots of the ‘old’ Redditch people will come for the nostalgia and lots of the ‘new’ Redditch people to see how the New Town was transformed from its early industrial days.”

The exhibition is on Saturday, April 2, and runs from 10am-5pm, with refreshments available. Tickets cost £2 or £1.50 for concessions.

For more information, call Philip Jarvis on 544068.