Dudley

Dudley was, historically, an island of Worcestershire surrounded by Staffordshire, and is often considered the capital of the Black Country. The town became a major industrial centre in the nineteenth century largely because of the richness of its mineral resources such as coal and limestone and later improvements in transport. The Industrial Revolution brought with it a rapid growth of population in Dudley, leading to great changes in the town scene. Slum housing sprang up in the courts and yards of the older town houses and survived into the early part of the nineteenth century. The town has continued to develop over the years, and today is hardly recognisable as the medieval market town and seat of the barons of Dudley, which Worcestershire once knew. These images will evoke memories for many and will bring great pleasure to all who know and love this Black Country town.