1940s-1960s high street
Step into living memory
Step into the 1940s, 50s and 60s and experience the hustle and bustle of our new high street. Meet new historic characters, spot vintage transport, and don’t forget to listen to the Talking Clock or ‘Dial-a-Disc’ in our beautiful 1960s telephone box. With lots of new stories to discover, there’s something for everyone.
- Listen to 1950s vinyl in our listening booths at Stanton’s Music Shop
- Remember flavours of the past in Burgin’s Newsagents
- Try pork baps in our 1950s Marsh & Baxter
- Look at the styles of the day in Laurie Thomas Hairdressers
- Find paper passbooks in our West Bromwich Building Society
- Spot the latest 1950s trends in the window display in E. Minett’s Ladieswear
- Send yourself a postcard in Spring Hill Post Office
- Try on replica military wear in Langer’s Army & Navy Stores
- Browse the shelves to find ingredients for a 1940s recipe in Halesowen & Hasbury Co-op
Do you remember your Co-op 'divi' number?
Clare Weston, Researcher, discovers the history of the Co-operative Society dividend number ahead of the opening of our recreation of the Halesowen and Hasbury Co-op shop, set in 1949.
Our Wendy Box
If you visit us, you may see our Wendy Box, which has been installed in front of Spring Hill Post Office. Read our webpage to find out more about the Wendy Box, including a video from researcher Nadia Awal. Please note: the webpage includes the word ‘spastic’, which is an outdated, offensive term that has been used in a derogatory way.
Halesowen and Hasbury Co-op
We welcomed former Co-op staff members to our recreation before it opened. Watch the video to hear what Margaret, Ron, Robert, and Clive thought.
Langer's Army & Navy Stores
Steve Langer, son of founder Herbert, has really helped us to make sure we’ve done his dad proud with our recreation. Listen to what he thought when he came in for a preview.
Spring Hill Post Office
The Nettleton children, John, Linda and Linda, spent a lot of time in their father and grandfather’s post office growing up. We invited them in to take a look at our recreation.
BCLM: Forging Ahead
Our new development has been made possible thanks to our visitors, donors, Members and Patrons, and supporters including National Lottery Heritage Fund, Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Arts Council England, and West Midlands Combined Authority.