'British Mills, Prospect Hill. Samuel Thomas & Son started making needles in Redditch in 1833. By 1840 he had attained a certain level of success which allowed him to build British Needle Mills as well as an elegant house, The Laurels, attached to the works, (left on photo). The Laurels is now grade 2 listed.

In the early 20th century Thomas's was taken over by William Hall & Co. who in turn became Amalgamated Needles and Fish Hooks in the 1920s. In 1930 Halls company joined with the Redditch firm of Henry Millward & Son to form ENTACO (English Needle & Fishing Tackle Co. Ltd.) 

At one time Samuel Thomas & Son was the largest needle factory in the world and one of the first to be steam powered.

There used to be a large tree, 20 feet in diameter, at the front and it had a big bulge in the middle, sadly it fell victim to a storm several years ago.'