The website of the
Black Country Society
Promoting interest in the past, present and future of our Black Country
Future Events
Our venue for talks (unless otherwise stated) is Bilston Town Hall.Bilston Town Hall, Church Street, Bilston. WV14 0AP.The Town Hall is fully accessible, there are free car parking facilities in the town centre. The venue is a 2 minute walk from Bilston Central Metro Stop and Bilston Bus Station.
To obtain the Zoom link for the Virtual Heritage Group talks, please email BlackCountrySocietyVHG@outlook.com
From the Black Country to Brazil: a 19th century story of hate, hope and upheaval by Keith Robinson
Virtual Heritage Group via Zoom - September 15th at 7.30.
For link email BlackCountrySocietyVHG@outlook.com.
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The talk tells the astonishing story of the migration of 300+ men, women and children from Wednesbury in 1868. Seeking a new life in South America, they crossed the Atlantic and made their way to a newly formed colony in the heart of the Brazilian jungle. Keith will cover the reasons why they made such a move, how they fared and delve into the lives of some of those who undertook the journey.
‘Sweet Heritage’ – A History of Confectionery (with samples!) by Emma Barran-Scott 24th September – 7.30pm Bilston Town Hall. Black Country Society Members: £3 Non-members: £5
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From rationing to retro tuck shop to long-lost local factories, Emma will take us on a journey into the fascinating world of confectionery and the memories it holds for so many of us. Expect a light-hearted evening, full of charm and possibly chocolate!
Photo exhibition at Dudley Archives
October 14th to December 20th
From Agenoria to Beeching
The first and last days of steam in Dudley
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Organised by the Dudley Local Archives and Local History Service and the Black Country Society as a contribution to Railways 200,which marks the 200th anniversary of Railways in Britain
The exhibition will consist mainly of two sets of photographs – one illustrating the first days of steam railways in the Dudley area between 1830 and 1860, and the second illustrating the final days of steam in the area, from the late 1950s and early 1960s. The early material is from the Dudley Archive collection and will illustrate the Earl of Dudley’s Shut End (Kingswinford) railway and in particular the locomotive Agenoria, that ran between Ashwood Basin and Shut End in Pensnett from 1829 to 1864, together with some early pictures of Dudley station. The second set of photographs will be from the Terry Hyde Collection held by the Black Country Society. Terry Hyde is a Blackcountryman and during his early years, he and his best friend David Wilson became train spotters and managed to travel around the area and photograph some of the most unique images of engines and trains that were busy in the Black Country.
Haunted Dudley by Andrew Homer
Virtual Heritage Group via Zoom - October 14th at 7.30.
For link email BlackCountrySocietyVHG@outlook.com.
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In conjunction with Dudley History Week, this talk will focus on some of the many ghosts and hauntings associated with Dudley Metropolitan Borough. An intriguing mix of more traditional and modern stories, the author’s own experiences covering many years of investigating alleged paranormal phenomena will feature throughout. The talk will focus on some of the many ghosts and hauntings associated with Dudley Metropolitan Borough. An intriguing mix of more traditional and modern stories, the author’s own experiences covering many years of investigating alleged paranormal phenomena will feature throughout.
An Introduction to Black Country Dialect – Across Time and Space by Esther Asprey
Wednesday 22nd October – 7.30pm Bilston Town Hall. Black Country Society Members: £3 Non-members: £5
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Esther Asprey from the University of Wolverhampton will introduce non-linguists to the main concepts in dialectology. We will see how the Old English spoken in the western Midlands developed, how the label Black Country arose to denote a still contested area, and how this label got transferred to the local language variety. Across the talk illustrations of the dialect will be given and we will see how today’s dialect fits in with its neighbour’s in terms of its grammar and words, and how it might develop in future.
An evening with Emma Purshouse
Virtual Heritage Group via Zoom - November 17th at 7.30.
For link email BlackCountrySocietyVHG@outlook.com.
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Following on from our previous and most enjoyable evening, Emma will once again introduce a selection of Black Country poetry and prose.
Beatrice Warde – Creative and Printing Pioneer by Jessica Glaser
Wednesday 26th November 2025 – 7.30pm Bilston Town Hall. Black Country Society Members: £3 Non-members: £5
In the early 1900s Beatrice Warde transformed the male-dominated British printing industry with her expertise to become a pivotal figure in printing and publishing. In this talk Jessica Glaser will shed light on Warde’s life, works and enduring influence
A Black Country Steam Photographer Rediscovered by Keith Hodgkins
Virtual Heritage Group via Zoom December 1 at 7.30.
For link email BlackCountrySocietyVHG@outlook.com.
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This talk is timed to correspond with the photographic exhibition organised by the Dudley Local Archives and Local History Service and the Black Country Society entitled ‘From Agenoria to Beeching: The first and last days of steam’. The exhibition features work done by Terry Hyde who created a fascinating photographic archive of steam in the Black Country. Terry’s story is told by Keith Hodgkins and illustrated by photographs from this remarkable collection.
