Latest news
Keep up to date with our latest news stories about BCLM: Forging Ahead.
Major Development Plans are Forging Ahead
29 May 2019
We are delighted to announce that we have received the final go ahead to begin our transformational £23m development project ‘BCLM: Forging...
Help us to write our shopping list...
19 November 2018
As part our BCLM: Forging Ahead development plans, we will be creating a new town centre, telling the story of the Black Country from the 1940s to the 1960s. This will be...
The Beer Mat Challenge - We have a winner!
12 October 2018
The Beer Mat Challenge ran throughout summer 2018 to collect memories of Wolverhampton’s Elephant & Castle pub. The Elephant & Castle was one of Wolverhampton's...
We need your memories of Woodside Library!
14 September 2018
We're currently calling out for any memories of Woodside Library on Stourbridge Road, Dudley in the early 1960s. We are planning to translocate this building to form an integral...
Forging Ahead profile: Brenda Minett
20 August 2018
E. Minett was founded in 1907 by Edith Dabbs Minett as a high quality ladies’ outfitters in Wednesbury. By the 1950s Edith’s daughter, Brenda, owned and...
A piano fit for a film star!
08 August 2018
A Stanton's payment book kindly donated this month will help to piece together the story of Stanton's Music Shop as part of BCLM's Forging Ahead. This...
We need your memories of the Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre in Wolverhampton
19 July 2018
Seventy years ago this July, the NHS was born! This will be a key story within our new 1940s-60s town, told via the ambitious recreation of Wolverhampton’s Lea Road Infant...
A Model Memory
15 June 2018
In our search for memories of The Elephant & Castle Pub (Wolverhampton), previous tenant Mo contacted BCLM about a homemade model of her home in the 1990s. Mo has kindly...
What a Key Find!
06 June 2018
After seeing our call out for memories of Stanton's Music Shop, an eagle eyed visitor spotted this Stanton & Sons piano in search of a new home. The owner was contacted...
We need your memories of the Elephant & Castle!
15 May 2018
We're currently calling out for any memories prior to 1969 of the Elephant & Castle that once stood on the corner of Stafford Street & Cannock Road, Wolverhampton. We're...
Do you remember Marsh & Baxter butchers' shop in Brierley Hill?
17 April 2018
We're currently looking for memories about Marsh & Baxter's butchers' shop that was on on the High Street in Brierley Hill. Specifically, we are looking for memories...
Do you remember the West Bromwich Building Society in Cape Hill?
05 March 2018
We are currently on the look out for memories of the West Bromwich Building Society in Cape Hill, Smethwick during the 1940s-60s. Once occupying 31 Cape Hill in Smethwick, we...
Bringing Rock and Roll to life
28 February 2018
Earlier this month, we were very lucky to have this 1950s Dansette Record player in full working order, with BSR parts made in the Black Country and further donations of some...
Do you remember Stanton's Music Shop?
05 February 2018
We're currently seeking any memories of Stanton's Music Shop prior to 1960. Once occupying Dudley Town Centre in the 1950s, we have plans to recreate the once popular local...
BCLM: Forging Ahead Planning Application Successfully Submitted
10 January 2018
The first of the planning applications for our major development project, BCLM: Forging Ahead were submitted to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC) on 8 December 2017. ...
Patrick Foundation £500k donation drives forward BCLM's major development
05 January 2018
Today we launch our fundraising campaign to raise the final £1.9m for our exciting £21.7m Forging Ahead major development project - and thanks to a...
Free entry* for National Lottery Players on Sat 18 Nov
10 November 2017
On Saturday 18 November, we are offering free entry* to National Lottery Players as a thank you for the funding award we have recently received from The Heritage Lottery Fund...
Historic Gas Showroom's move to Museum begins
24 October 2017
We're about to start work on the take down of West Bromwich’s historic Gas Showroom! Key elements of this building will be moved here to the Museum where it will be...
BCLM: Forging Ahead – Visitor Welcome Architects announced
04 July 2017
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Buckinghamshire-based Napier Clarke Architects to design our brand new Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is the...
Funding Success
27 June 2017
We’re pleased to announce that we have been successful in our application to become an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) for 2018-2022. ...
BCLM: Forging Ahead wins National Lottery support
15 June 2017
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £9.8million from the National Lottery towards our £21.7m project BCLM: Forging Ahead giving us a...
We've Submitted the First Round Bid for Forging Ahead Development
01 December 2016
Today we submitted our first round bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £9.8m to complete Phase One of our Masterplan for the next 40 years. If the bid is successful,...
Our 10-year vision
24 May 2016
After previous consultation with the public, we have put together a proposal for a significant site development to create a world class visitor attraction welcoming 500,000...
