The Black Country
In the heart of England
The Black Country is often seen as a collection of 20 or so towns falling within the four Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton in the heart of England. While no one quite agrees on the exact boundaries of the region, there is one thing we know for certain: Black Country folk changed the world.
Our small but mighty region built the world’s first successful steam engine; put the first steam train (the Stourbridge Lion) on US soil; fuelled the introduction of the first minimum wage; produced the anchor for the Titanic; practically built the Crystal Palace; and so much more.
Our mighty global impact
From the early 20th century onwards, the Black Country region became one of the most industrialised parts of the UK with coal mines, iron foundries, glass factories, brick works and more dominating the landscape.
The sheer intensity of industry earned the Black Country a worldwide reputation and its goods were shipped around the globe. But industry at such scale came at a huge cost, and the landscape was turned inside out for its resources. In 1862 the American Consul to Birmingham Elihu Burritt famously described the region as “black by day and red by night” because of the ubiquitous black smog by day and the fiery glow of the furnaces by night.
Our evolving contribution to industry and the world
Up until the 1950s and 60s, the Black Country preserved the physical, economic and social landscape of the earlier part of the century, but eventually the pace of change began to erode the essential character of the region. Following two major waves of industrial development, the last mine in the Black Country closed in 1968, bringing about the end of a unique era, one that is preserved here at Black Country Living Museum for you to explore.
Today paints a different picture to those heady days of industry. There are many businesses in the region that still lead the way with production, from the ongoing manufacturing of chains to intricate metalwork and die casting. However, this industrial might is now complemented by our vibrant community of creative industries.