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The name first appeared in 1275. The village commanded a long view to the east from the ridge now followed by the Evesham Road. In the early 19th century it grew around the manufacture of needles, springs and fish-hooks. Headless Cross became part of Redditch district in 1875 although most of it was rolling Worcestershire countryside. Being the highest point of Redditch the East Worcestershire Waterworks built a water tower in 1882. It was replaced by the present concrete structure that is a Redditch landmark. The Vaynor estate was built in the 1950s. Headless Cross was absorbed by Redditch new town from the mid-1960s.

Culled from 'Old Redditch Voices' by Anne Bradford, Redditch: Hunt End Books 2005, ISBN 0-9519481-4-8