BCLM begins its 1940s – 60s town 5 Jun 2019

The Black Country Living Museum is starting work on its 1940s – 60s town, extending the story told by the site up to the closure of Baggeridge Coal Mine in 1968. It will explore topics from the period including the rise of the teenager, changing role of women, globalisation and trade and the birth of the NHS. Some buildings like the Woodside Library, Dudley will be moved to the site brick by brick and will appear alongside recreated structures including the Elephant and Castle pub. There will also be visitor and learning centres and a shop. The £23m project has recently received £9.4m from NLHF, allowing work to begin, with the aim of opening in 2022. Funders which also include ACE and the local LEP, hope it will strengthen the local visitor economy and create 143 jobs. BBC, BCLM, NLHF