On Friday 24th April, over 80 Year 7 pupils visited the Black Country Museum in Dudley, West Midlands to learn about the industrial heritage of the area. The huge open air museum has buildings and artefacts from 1830 onwards and many interactive exhibits which gave pupils experience of life in the past. 

On arrival the Year 7 pupils were organised into three groups with each of them being shown around by a costumed guide who really brought the era alive for them. The pupils explored historic houses and shops and even had lunch from a traditional 1930s fish and chip shop.

The groups found out about work and industry from the time including steam power and they watched a blacksmith at work making iron chains.  Travelling fairs were a popular part of life in the area from around 1910 and a highlight for pupils was trying out the historic fairground rides including the helter-skelter.

It was a lovely sunny day and the group thoroughly enjoyed their day and learnt an enormous amount about the industrial heritage of Britain in the process.

A gallery of photos from the day can be seen below. Please click on an image to enlarge it.

Mr L Mackin

Assistant Head of Humanities