Black Country Muse

 Welcome to the Black Country Muse, the words I wrote back in 2011, when I started off the Website. A product of mind over matter, was how I described it, and I  wasn't wrong. It's also proved to be, very much still a work in progress. I invited all with an interest, to join me on the journey, and thousands of you did, I am grateful for your support and assistance in keeping it all going. The Locomotive pictured below, was built by the Great Western Railway. Named " Hironbelle ", it did sterling service until the boiler blew up. Thankfully, a thing of the past, which has improved with the passing of the years. I wish I could say the same about the author, although the aims of the website have not changed, it's just got bigger.

A little ramble through time,wandering around some places that may bring back a few memories, and some recollections and stories from a bygone age. Assisted by photographs, sketches, and a few maps, why not take a few minutes, and join me on the journey, for you never know what little treasure may come to light. The Website covers the whole of the Black Country, even some places others think should not be included, and I have spent time in every one of them. The sites search facility will be useful to you, for by typing in a name, date, or place, you can be almost certain, that something will come up. I have also produced a Blog Page as well, and while it contains more information about the site, it's also a place where I can have a little moan about things, and where, if you wish, you can add a few comments of your own.Should you decide to support the website by becoming a site Member, please ensure that your e-mail will accept the invitation which will be sent. If you have recently applied and have not received a reply, please check your Spam.

King George V, an ultra modern Battleship ( Dreadnought ) at the start of the first World War. Many parts, made in the midlands, were used in her construction. As we all get older, it seems we dwell more on the past, than the present. I have often thought, how nice it would be, to go back in time, and see how it all really was. Not to stay mind, the idea of living somewhere, without all the modern conveniences, fills me with horror. Just how did they manage to survive without central heating, double glazing, cars, showers, the NHS,the welfare state and the benefits. Not to mention being able to get money out of a brick wall.The Black Country, (  South Staffordshire and North East Worcestershire ) just a small part of the industrial revolution, had just as much poverty and deprivation, as the rest of the regions, but it seems to some, it lasted longer, It didn't, it's because some would have you believe it did. There are many articles on the regions historical past, and I'm not going into a great long lecture on the subject on this page. The aim of the Website, is to prompt your memory with a series of stories, and pictures, set into a group of topics. I will add more as time goes by. The Gallery Albums all have pictures related to the various topics, all of which have space for comments. You will need to be a Member of the site in order to post items, ask questions, etc. The Website contains a message service, and there is a Facebook Page, which can be located on the Links Page.The Website is now far to big for everything to be listed on the sidebars, but I will do my best.

Included, is a Links page, which contains other local site's of  interest, which you may also find useful. Just click on the page headings listed above.With your assistance, I will try and add to these as time goes by. As a region, it's not that big, but it contains a wealth of history, the largest archive for which is it's people, which of course, includes you. I have always been proud to call myself a  " Black Country Mon ", and this site, is my very own acknowledgement, of the debt we owe to our hard working ancesters, from whose toil and sweat, the area was born.

The pictures, some of the sights that could have been seen around the Black Country, and some that still can, are there for your enjoyment, as are the large number in the various Albums.You will also find a wealth of information, that I hope will be of use to those of you, searching for your long dead ancesters

Death and destruction, from a variety of causes, was always going to part of a heavily industrialised region like ours, so you will find a few of those as well. Social history, much neglected, in our ever faster spinning modern world, helps to put a bit of meat on the bare bones of genealogy, and you will find a great deal of it on the website. Anyone wishing to contact me, is very welcome, and I will respond as quickly as I can. The first, and hardest part of any journey, is that first step, and, should you decide to take it with me, I hope you enjoy the ride, and the read

It's been a few years now since I wrote the Home Page, and we have travelled a long way since. A big thank you to the many who have contributed items and ideas, and are still here on the journey I started. I have been amazed at just how far some of our ancesters actually managed to get. Indonesia, Papa New Guinea, China, Russia, India, Japan, in fact, almost anywhere you care to name on the five Continents. I hope their relatives and decendents have had a little taste of what they left behind. Without a bit of Social history, everyones family tree would be a little bare, and to share what we all find, adds to the sum total of knowledge. Not a bad aim in life, and I will continue to follow this path as long as I am able. Someone suggested that I should change the name of the website, for the area in no way fits the title anymore. It's a fairly green and clean place now, but as I said before, you simply can't kill off a Legend can you. The wheels are forever turning, and the journey continues, I hope you will continue to enjoy the ride, hopefully, to spend some very pleasant weekends in the tranquility of the Clent Hills.