Embedded Files
The late 18th and 19th Centuries was a time of great national change due to the industrial revolution in Britain, no more so than in the Black Country which was in effect created by these changes. When you look at the birth, marriage, death and census information in the 19th century you will find it very different from what you might expect today: infant deaths, very large families, widowhood, remarriages, illegitimacy, lack of education and short lifespans due to death in childbirth or industrial accidents were all common. An appreciation of the social conditions in the Black Country at that time helps with an understanding why this was so.
Some more recent news: in July 2020 the Black Country was granted UNESCO Global Geopark status putting it in a similar category in geological importance in the UK to parts of the North Pennines, Brecon Beacons and Anglesey. You can read more about it here (1). The significance of its geological importance is shown by the fact that the fossil trilobite Calymene blumenbachii which was referred to as the "Dudley bug" by 18th century quarry men can be seen on the Dudley County Borough Coat of Arms. The Black Country's particular geology drove its development in the early industrial revolution: but more of this later. You can see something of the Black Country both past and present in the slideshow.
There is more information on the location of the Black Country, origins of its name, history and culture in the pages below.
References
References
(1) "Black Country Geopark". Wikipedia. Last modified 11 October 2022. Accessed 7 July 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Country_Geopark
Bibliography
Bibliography
https://www.blackcountrybooks.co.uk/history
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse