Our plans
A 1940s - 60s town
A 3d illustration of the Visitor Welcome
Architectural drawing of the industrial development- A Learning Centre
- A 1940s - 60s town
- A 3d illustration of the Visitor Welcome
- Architectural drawing of the industrial development
- A Learning Centre
BCLM: Forging Ahead will see the creation of a new historic development focusing on the 1940s-60s, the construction of a new Visitor Centre and car park, and the creation of a new Learning Centre.
Find out more about our plans:
A 1940s - 60s Town
We plan to create a new historic development set in the 1940s-1960s, telling the story of social, cultural, commercial and industrial life in the Black Country during this period. This will allow us to tell the story of the Black Country up to the closure of the Baggeridge Coal Mine in 1968 - which brought about the end of a unique era for the Black Country.
We’ve identified a few buildings across the region that we want to translocate, recreate or replicate here at the Museum (listed below). They could include a pub, shops, a hairdressers and an NHS clinic.
We will also be able to demonstrate industries that led to the worldwide export of Black Country products, such as brick-making and aluminium founding.
We will save key architectural elements of this building to recreate it here as part of our 1940s-60s historic town.
We are now looking for memories of this building between 1940s-60s.
The building we are recreating was knocked down in the late 1950s and replaced with a modern flagship store. Right now, we are looking for memories of Stanton’s old home prior to 1960.
We are looking for memories of the Cape Hill branch of the West Bromwich Building Society in the 1940s-60s so that we can recreate it in our new historic town.
We are looking for memories about Marsh & Baxter’s Butchers Shop that was once on the High Street in Brierley Hill so that we can recreate it in our new 1940s-60s historic town. Specifically, we are looking for memories from the 1950s as that is the period in which we’ll be setting the butchers.
The elephant we'll never forget. We are looking for memories and objects relating to the Elephant & Castle in Wolverhampton, 1940s-60s.
Do you have any personal stories about the pub which stood on the corner of Stafford Street & Cannock Road, Wolverhampton? We are especially interested in hearing about any memories prior to 1969. Did you or your family and friends drink there? Play dominoes there? Did you ever hear any stories about the pub? Or just use it as a meeting place?
Do you have any personal stories about the place to shop for Wednesbury’s most fashionable ladies in the 1950s? Did you, your family or friends go there to keep up with the latest trends in the 50s? Did you or anyone you know work there?
Seventy years ago this July, the NHS was born. This will be a key story within Black Country Living Museum’s new 1940s-60s town, told via the ambitious recreation of Wolverhampton’s Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre.
Do you remember the Infant Welfare Centre on Lea Road between 1940s-1960s? We’re looking for memories and objects to help us with our ambitious recreation of this important Wolverhampton-based clinic.
We will be translocating Woodside Library, brick by brick, to form an important part of our Forging Ahead development. We are currently seeking memories about the library from the early 1960s, the period in which the building will be set.
Do you have any personal stories or family connection with the Library? Did you borrow there, study there, or dance there?
The building, with its distinctive steep pitched roof and square frontage, was designed by local architect, Stanley Beach and will be recreated as part of BCLM: Forging Ahead.
Find out more about the Stourbridge Rd Co-op
Visitor Welcome
We plan to create a new Visitor Welcome including a new Visitor Centre and car park.
Learning
We plan to create a new contemporary Learning Centre and complementary Industrial Learning Space
Donate
We need your help to raise £150,000 to reach our fundraising target and enable this exciting project to take place.
Visit Us
Enjoy a proper, full day out. Rain or shine, you won’t run out of things to see when exploring our 26 acres.
Watch our announcement video below to hear more about our plans
"Black Country Living Museum is one of the UK’s most popular open-air museums bringing knowledge of the country’s industrial past to a national and international audience. It also has a reputation for working brilliantly with local communities.
These latest plans reflect an ongoing commitment to sharing the stories of those who lived in the area and who made it what it is today. Our funding, which is made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will help update the wider site making it a visitor attraction truly fit for the 21st century."
Ros Kerslake, CEO of the Heritage Lottery Fund
