A-Z of The Black Country: Places-People-History

by Andrew Homer

The Black Country in the West Midlands covers the towns of Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Sandwell. Originally these were market towns, but the area became one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution because of its mineral resources, particularly iron, coal, and limestone. With the decline of these industries in the late 20th century, the Black Country has had to change yet again. Within this area there is a wealth of fascinating history, famous names, and others equally interesting characters less well known. The Aaron Manby, built in 1822 at the Horseley Ironworks, was the very first iron steamship to go to sea. Influential characters too, include the charismatic Mary Macarthur who led the Cradley Heath chain making women out on strike in 1910 and the last remaining gunpowder plotters who were captured at Himley; the famous footballer Duncan Edwards, tennis player Dorothy Round, and comedian Lenny Henry. Many areas claim to be the cradle of the industrial revolution but in the Black Country this claim can be justified in the erection of the world’s first steam engine by Thomas Newcomen in 1712, Lord Dudley’s working private railway operating in 1829 before the Rainhill Trials. And perhaps the most important discovery of all was the first documented use of coke to smelt iron before the well-known Abraham Darby ironmaking dynasty of Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge. A-Z of the Black Country reveals the stories behind the history of this distinctive area, This fascinating A-Z tour is fully illustrated with photography and will appeal to all those with an interest in this part of the West Midlands.

96 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2019