The Early History of the Black Country This talk by local historian Pat Green, covers the whole of England and its effect on the Black Country by national events, starting with the Romans and ending at the 17C, before the Industrial Revolution.   Do please note that this meeting is not on the usual Tuesday […]

'King' of the Desert The adventurous exploits of William Joseph Harding King (1869-1933) of Pedmore and Wollescote Hall. Our own Jean Weston will tell us all.   Do please note that this meeting is not on the usual Tuesday evening but a Saturday afternoon. Download a poster

Max Keen is our speaker for this evening. Max says “ a snarling, scheming, spineless, cruel, ruthless taxman, womaniser and tyrannical King. Is there anything good to say about the man?” As usual Max will be in full costume, that of Sir William Marshall, Englands greatest knight and will entertain us in his own inimitable […]

Group visit to the Coffin Works and Pen Museum in Birmingham. Refreshments upon arrival at the Coffin Works, followed by an introductory talk and tour. For lunch we will adjourn to the nearby Shakespeare Tavern. We shall after then walk to the Pen Museum where there will be an introductory talk and tour. The Coffin […]

A Tour conducted by Jon Harcourt, church historian. Known locally as Bottom Church with dedication to St Edmund, King and Martyr, the church is in Castle Street Dudley. St. Edmund King of East Anglia from 855 AD to 870 AD was defeated by the Vikings, bound to a tree and executed with arrows, then beheaded […]

Old Photographs and their identification and dating A presentation by Tom Doig. Tom will not consider the technical processes used in production of photographs but rather use the clues offered by the mounts, the dimensions and the materials to uncover the essential facts. Similarly costumes will not be examined as a dating factor as grandma, just as […]

A  Guided Tour of Wolverhampton Archives with a talk by Penny Smith - ‘The Thorneycroft Family Scrapbook’ Wolverhampton Archives is the former home of Benjamin Molineux, a wealthy local banker and iron founder. The tour will be followed by Penny’s talk about the Thorneycroft’s family scrapbook from the late 1800’s. There will be opportunities to do […]

‘Getting Rid of the Stink’ A presentation by Dr. Mike Haynes. Emeritus professor Mike, discusses with some humour,  how the introduction of clean water helped rid us of some unpleasant diseases so improving the lives of our ancestors. The works of the great engineers of the 19th century and how their efforts effectively eliminated death by typhoid, cholera […]

‘How I record My Family Tree’ by Ourselves A social evening where Members are asked to bring in their family trees and charts, family albums etc. to showcase their work. Festive refreshments will be served. Download a Poster here