We welcome a new member of the #DudleyArchives team, Hannah Clynes, Archives Assistant, shown here getting out a volume. This week’s #WaybackWednesday shows a former assistant doing the same in 1967. #ExploreYourArchives #BehindtheScenes

A recent accession at #DudleyArchives is a collection from #BumbleHole Visitor Centre, #Netherton (C10281). It covers local #heritage relating to the area such as an oral history project and a photograph collection for M & W Grazebrook Ltd. This looks a bit like a Dalek! #DrWho

#HappyFathersDay! To celebrate, we are sharing this endearing letter [DE/15/1/6/46] from the Earl of Dudley, ‘Dad’, to 'dear old Sonny', from the Government House, Sydney. 5 Apr 1911. “Only a few more months & we shall all be together again. Your loving Dad”. #FathersDay #Dad

For #WaybackWednesday we have a new accession, transferred from Stourbridge Library, 'A Map of the Parish of #Oldswinford' by Josiah Bach, 1699. It provides surnames alongside ARP (Acres, Roods & Poles). Prominent buildings are depicted such as Wollescote Hall. What can you spot?

Kinver, just outside the Dudley borough, is home to pre-historic rock caves. A resident stands outside a rock dwelling built into the red sandstone. Evidence exists that these small dwellings were lived in as early as 1777! [p6/1168], c. 1890 #WaybackWednesday #caves #geology

#FaunaFriday [pto/3916] shows family members on the grounds of Bradley Hall, #Kingswinford, feeding a gaggle of geese in 1914. The Hall [pto/3917] dated 1596 was sold in 1924 & knocked down. Its materials now exist as ‘Bradley Lodge’ in Stratford-upon-Avon. Credit: Ron Davies

Our first #MapMonday is of the 'county of Stafford' divided into ‘hundreds’ [C9536/1/3], sold by J. Hinton at the Kings Arms in St. Paul’s Churchyard, London, 1749. The map is bordered by drawings & explanations of the local area, with #DudleyCastle standing “on a high mountain”

Did you know that #Dudley has its own #Wimbledon champion? Dorothy Round won the Ladies’ Singles in 1934 & 1937 & the Mixed Doubles titles in 1934, 1935 & 1936. Images: Opening tennis courts in 1956 [p7/679]; Priory Park tennis courts, c.1940s [pto/3464]. #WayBackWednesday

Dudley Grammar School was founded in 1562, opening at its final location on St James’s Road in 1898. We like this ground floor plan from 1898 [DGS/II/6/5], and proposed additions and elevations to the school some 20 years later in 1920 [DGS/II/6/8]. #MapMonday

Today marks our first #FashionFriday! Each Friday we will be posting historical #fashion from our collections. This #PeakyBlinders style photo [p/70] from 1929 shows women in ‘cloche’ hats, boys in flat caps & men in bowler & fedora hats. Which decades would you like to see?

This week's maps and plans features #Stourbridge Public Baths by architect Frederick Woodward in 1899. These are from the Public Works Dept Collection, Acc 8613. Here is an interesting article about the Baths with a photo of the building: pressreader.com/uk/black-count… #MapMonday

In celebration of #BonfireNight this weekend, we had a look in our photographic collections for local historic bonfires. We like this image [p7/1518] taken in 1897 of a beacon being lit in Brierley Hill to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. #Fireworks #GuyFawkes

Here are some photos from our Local History Day at Dudley Archives, 25 November 2023. Thank you all for coming, we had a good turn out. We hope to have even more visitors at our local history days/events in 2024.

Come along & take a look at our festive display. Its in our searchroom so please come & visit if you are interested in doing family history or finding out about the history of the area. Seasons Greetings from Hannah and Jane (below), plus the rest of the team at Dudley Archives!

I now officially have a Masters degree!

Today we caught Santa planning out his route over the Dudley borough using our map showing the parish boundaries and churches in preparation for the big day!

We are delighted to have acquired the collection of Express & Star newspapers (acc10298). Since Sept 2023, it was gradually placed in chronological order & shelf located. Volumes can be viewed in our searchroom, [email protected] to enquire further. Credit: Express & Star

Today marks 10 years since Sir Lenny Henry opened Dudley Archives at Tipton Road on 23rd April 2014. We would like to thank everyone who has visited us in the past decade. To celebrate, we will be sharing memories of the Archives in years gone by and the history of Tipton Road.

Check out our new exhibition on John Duncalf, "the Man that Did Rott Both Hands & Leggs". It explores contemporary views on divine judgement after the Staffordshire labourer stole a Bible, denied the theft & lost his limbs, leading to his untimely death in Kingswinford in 1677.