Black Country Living Museum


Useful Information

Location: 1.5 km from Dudley town centre and only 4.8 km from Junction 2 on the M5 motorway on the A4123 truck road.
Open: MAR-OCT daily 10-17. Other times by prior arrangement.
Fee: Contact museum for latest admission charges.
Classification: Limestone and Coal Mines.
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 4SQ, Tel: +44-121-557.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1978 opened to the public.

Geology


Description

The museum consists of several sites which represent local life and industry during the 19th and 20th centuries. Boat trips take visitors by canal tunnel into the old limestone mines. There is a full scale working replica of a Newcome Steam Engine as used from about 1712 to pump water from Lord Dudley's local mines. Visitors may explore a full scale reconstructed coal mine showing how a 7 metre thick seam was worked locally. It is entered via a drift entrance. There is also an audio-visual presentation in the mine.

A second colliery exhibit includes a reconstruction of the Racecourse Colliery, complete with surface equipment and a steam operated winding engine. A third colliery at Brook Shaft is being constructed to show more operations and equipment. It is hoped that eventually visitors may be able to view the actual workings underground.

The museum also contains a well stocked gift shop, a Cafe that can provide a three course meal, whilst the ”Bottle and Glass„ pub serves traditional Black Country Ale.


Text by Tony Oldham (2001). With kind permission.