Illustrated Tales of the Black Country

The Black Country in the West Midlands was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. The area became known for its intensive heavy industries and a unique identity developed around the densely populated towns of the Black Country. Over the years a host of strange and unusual tales have grown up around the Black Country from remarkable historical happenings and stories of the supernatural to more recent documented cases. Curious beliefs and customs were once widespread in the area''s towns and villages, some of which still flourish today. The fascinating and quirky stories include the building of the world’s first successful steam engine by Thomas Necomen, celebrated today by Black Country Day, and the manufacture of the anchor for Titanic, the largest ship in the world at that time. A replicas of Newcomen''s engine can be seen today at the Black Country Living Museum and a replica of Titanic''s anchor stands in Netherton town centre. Holbeach House near Dudley was the site of the last stand of the Gunpowder Plotters and Dudley Castle is known as one of he most haunted castles in the country, its many ghosts including the Grey Lady. At Wallsall, the nurse Dorothy Pattison – Sister Dora – cared for patients through a smallpox epidemic in Victorian times and later treated many injured railway workers. The town lined the streets at her funeral, the cortege headed by many who worked on the railways.These strange and unusual stories are accompanied by the author’s photographs of places featured in the text, both present-day and historical, in this hugely entertaining book.