Industrial Quarter

Discover how industry changed in the 1950s

Our Industrial Quarter is made up of three buildings, sharing new stories from Joe H. Smith & Sons (Oldbury), J.H. Lavender Aluminium Foundry and Cricket Field Brickworks.

These buildings highlight how industry in the Black Country changed through the decades, with stories in living memory about the advancements in industrial development, migration stories, and how and why wages became very competitive. 

  • See brickmaking demonstrations at our recreation of Cricket Field Brickworks
  • Marvel over the impressive sight of gravity die-casting at one of the original buildings relocated from J.H. Lavender’s Aluminium Foundry
  • Discover the story of the legend ‘Sledge’ who’s name appears on handmade hammers at our recreation of Joe H. Smith & Sons Ltd

Follow the story of our Industrial Quarter 

A costumed character dressed in overalls demonstrates in J.H. Lavender Aluminium Foundry, set in 1959.
A wooden handmade hammer, with the branded stamp name Joe
A histroic photo of workers inside J.H. Lavender's Aluminuim Foundry
Historic photo of Cricket Field Brick Works with two chimneys dominating the sky line

BCLM: Forging Ahead

Our new development has been made possible thanks to our visitors, donors, Members and Patrons, and supporters including Wellcome Trust, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Arts Council England, and West Midlands Combined Authority.