Around the Black Country Branch Area

The Black Country branch area includes the City of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell and is the largest branch in the Staffordshire and West Midlands region. It gained its name in the mid nineteenth century due to the smoke from the many thousands of ironworking foundries and forges and the nature of the countryside which had been covered by dark spoil from the working of shallow and relatively thick (30ft) coal seams. The region was described as 'black by day and red by night' by Elihu Burritt, the American Consul to Birmingham in 1862 and other authors, from Dickens to Shenstone, refer to the intensity of manufacturing in the Black Country and its effect on the landscape and its people. The industries it is so well known for include coal & coke, iron & steel, locks & keys, nails, chains, ships anchors, glassware and beer & stout. Dudley was put on the map when the original anchor of the Titanic was cast by Hingley's in Netherton and was hauled to the old Dudley train station by shire horses in 1911.

The Black Country branch is actively involved with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership which is endeavouring to put forward ideas and suggestions to the Government for projects within the Black Country.

The Black Country branch usually holds free members' evenings on the second Wednesday of each month, except August and December, at The Lodge, Wellington Road, Dudley. A free hot buffet is served from 7.00pm with the meeting commencing at 7.30pm. Speakers are invited to talk about a wide range of business issues at the meetings. Full details are found on the Meetings and Events page. Non-members and members from other branches are welcome to attend, please contact the Branch Secretary, Michelle McAuliffe or Karen Woolley (Development Manager for Staffordshire and the West Midlands) on Tel: 01332 517176 if you have any queries. The Black Country branch committee meets monthly, usually on the Monday following the monthly members' meeting and non-committee members are welcome to attend as observers.

View the July 2011 Newsletter here

View the September/October 2011 Newsletter here

View the January 2012 Newsletter here

View the February 2012 Newsletter here

Black Country

Regional Delegates