Welcome to our blog

This blog was created on Friday 11 September 2009. The aim is to provide a chronological account of Black Country Society news and information, news of events and news from the region.
The Black Country is the region of the West Midlands that includes towns like Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Darlaston and many more. The boundary is often debated, the "traditional view of the boundary is:

"The 'Black Country' is defined by geology; it respects no human boundaries. Beneath the 'Black Country' lies the 30 foot (9.15 metre) coal seam. This is Britain's thickest and richest seam of coal which, together with its adjacent seams of thin coal, iron, limestone and clay, supported the development of the industrial region. The coal lies beneath Wednesbury, Darlaston, Wednesfield, Bilston, Coseley, Tipton, Dudley, Brierley Hill and Halesowen, together with their nearby smaller townships, and at greater depth beneath West Bromwich, Oldbury and Smethwick."


THE BLACK COUNTRY SOCIETY believes the original Black Country to be:

"That area of South Staffordshire and North Worcestershire (excluding Birmingham) which was on the famous 30 foot seam of coal. By 1860, within 5 miles of Dudley there were 441 pits, 181 blast furnaces, 118 iron works, 79 rolling mills and 1,500 puddling furnaces, all pouring out smoke. This led to the region being described as 'black by day and red by night'. From the early 1700's scores of industrial townships and villages grew in the area and from the late 19th century many local councils were created. All these townships within the Black Country were consolidated into the four Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton by the local government re-organisations of 1966 and 1974, with a total population now in excess of one million. With modern-day high technology replacing heavy industry 'the Green' not 'the Black' Country is arguably now more descriptive of the region, but The Black Country Society has strenuously resisted suggestions to change the name of the area believing that the heritage and history of the Black Country is one to be proud of and cherished, and undoubtedly worthy of preservation for future generations."


So what do you think?

Visit the Society webpage for much more information about the Society, including details of publications, membership and much more.