The Black Country and the White Slaves of England

The Black Country and the White Slaves of England

This exhibition, within the Museum's exhibition halls, displays historic photos of women chainmakers at work, telling the story of how under the inspirational leadership of Mary Macarthur and local trade unionists the women chainmakers staged a 10 week strike, attracting international attention to the Black Country town, Cradley Heath.

Photographs of the protests and processions of Cradley Heath can be seen along with a display of chains and tools that the women chainmakers would have worked with in 1910.

In the Museum's village is the impressive Cradley Heath Workers' Institute, exhibiting further displays about the women chainmakers strike.

Dr Jean Debney, author of 'Breaking the Chains - the Story of the Women Chainmakers from Cradley Heath' will be one of the speakers at the forthcoming Black Country History Day on Saturday 15th October 2011 when she will examine Mary Macarthur's role in the ten week strike.