Industrial Heritage Of The Black Country

Further to the success of our James Watt tour, we commissioned a new tour to be led by Dr Malcolm Dick, an expert in the history of the Industrial Revolution in the Midlands, which finally ran last year to great acclaim. This fascinating tour, which also features a talk from the Antique Roadshow’s Paul Atterbury, looks at the industrial and transport history of the Black Country region at a critical time in England’s economic and social development. A full day is allowed at the superb Black Country Living Museum, familiar to fans of the TV series “Peaky Blinders,” which is filmed here, as well as a canal cruise and visits to the Leather Museum Walsall, Stourbridge Red Cone Glass House Museum and the new Stourbridge Glass Museum.  Combined with the expert guidance of Dr Malcom Dick, these visits give a fascinating insight into the development of the Industrial Renovation in the Black Country.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive independently at the Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill Dudley from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception, dinner with wine and a talk by Dr Malcolm Dick, “The emergence of the Black Country in the Industrial Revolution.’

Day 2: Leather Museum Walsall, Stourbridge Red Cone Glass House Museum and Stourbridge Glass Museum
A varied day looks at different aspects of the Industrial Revolution as we headfirst to Walsall and the fascinating Leather Museum, which looks at the history of the leather industry and where some of the world’s best saddles and leather goods have been made for more than 200 years. Next onto Stourbridge, the centre of the glass industry and visit the impressive Red House Glass Cone, built at the end of the 18^th century and operational until 1936 to see how glass was made and its role in the industrial might of the country. While here we will have lunch included at the Red Cone Coffee House. Our final visit is to the Stourbridge Glass Museum (planned to open in April 2022) housed in the Grade II listed former Stuart Crystal Glassworks which has been adapted to house both permanent and temporary galleries, a hot glass making studio and a hands-on activity space. The Stourbridge Glass Collection housed at the new museum is one of the finest world-wise holdings of British and international 17^th, 18^th, 19^th and 20^th century glass. This evening we will enjoy a talk from Paul Atterbury: ‘At the Heart of Industry: the canals of Birmingham and the Black Country’ and dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 Black Country Living Museum and Canal Cruise
Most of the day is allocated to the superb Black Country Living Museum, an immersive award-winning open-air museum that tells the story of one of the very first industrialised landscapes in Britain. Set across 26 acres, you'll explore over forty carefully reconstructed shops, houses and industrial areas that represent the Black Country's story. It tells the story of how steam power, human ingenuity and an increasingly connected world transformed the region into a manufacturing powerhouse. Here, history is brought to life before your eyes – and you'll hear the clang of hammers and smell the smoke billowing from red brick chimneys. The museum may well be familiar to you as the setting for a host of TV series and films, including Peaky Blinders, Stan & Ollie and the Antiques Roadshow. A canal cruise from the Dudley Canal Trust into the abandoned limestone mines and tunnels completes the day’s journey into our industrial past.  Return to the hotel for approximately 17.30.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion

Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 40 passengers. 

INCLUDED

• Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill Dudley, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
•  Welcome reception
• Three-course dinner with wine
• Second dinner in the hotel restaurant
• One light lunch
• All talks, guided tours and admissions
• Coach touring itinerary and tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Transport to the hotel is not included
• Double for Sole Use supplement
• Extra nights on bed and breakfast basis
• Holiday insurance
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill Dudley

Set in the heart of Dudley’s historic canal marina, the four-star Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill Dudley has a lovely waterfront location and provides modern facilities including a restaurant, bar, fitness centre, spa and indoor swimming pool. Bedrooms are comfortable and of a generous size with en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, wifi and tea/coffee making facilities.

Car parking: Complimentary off street parking available at the hotel

Hotel Website

MORE INFO - Please click here for more information

Please note that all our UK tours start and finish at the relevant hotel.  

You can normally check in from 3pm onwards but hotels will always be happy to store your luggage if you arrive earlier in the day. 

For full details of how to get to the hotel, directions and the nearest train station, please click on the hotel website or call our office for details. These will also be sent automatically with your confirmation. 

The welcome reception and first evening dinner / talk will commence at about 7pm - full details will be sent with your joining instructions about 10 days prior to the arrival date.