BLACK COUNTRY

The Black Country was an area between Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the name came about in the mid 19thC when thousands of furnaces and chimneys belched out smoke.

Mining of coal, iron and limestone caused large derilect areas. Coal seams some 30` thick and often only a few feet below the surface resulted in many mines being started by just a handful of men.

The museum was established in 1975 and the first of many buildings saved from demolition were brought to the museum site and re-built. They were bult brick by brick, as in their original location, around the canal basin to form a village.

As you walk around the village you really get to step back in time as you look in the shop windows faithfully set out as they would have been so long ago. You can step into the shops and speak to a shop assistant who will answer any questions. The houses are open for you to wander through and see the furniture of the time.

These cast iron houses were builtfor Dudley council in 1925 to to help quickly build houses to replace slums. Only 2 lots were built in Dudley as with a cost of £1000 a pair it was cheaper to use brick. 600 cast iron plates were used in each.

The Electric tram was recued from a garden in Dudley where it had been used as a summerhouse for 45 yrs. The vintage car is one of several plus motorcycles that are driven around the site adding atmosphere.

The Tilted Cottage had in it`s original location suffered from subsidence due to mining and when it was taken down and re-built at the museum it was exactly as it had stood showing the effect the subsidence had.

Trolleybuses first appeared in Wolverhampton in 1927. The ones operated at the museum that transport visitors around the site date back to 1946/1954.

This bridge dates back to1879 and was removed from the construction site of the Wolverhampton ring road and installed at the museum.

This was truly a wonderful day out and after doing the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks in 5hrs the previouse day it was nice to step ashore and have a relaxing stroll back in time.