Photographs from the past

This photograph shows the Castle some 10 years before the creation of the zoo. At this time the Castle and its grounds were used as a public park. Over these years the Council undertook repairs and improvements due to the Castle's dilapidated state. Dudley can be seen in the background.

This building was constructed by Thomas Caddick in 1653/54 and later demolished in about 1860. The building was demolished as part of the opening up of the market place. During its time the building had been used as a police station, lock-up and magistrates court. The fountain that currently stands in the market place was built where the Old Town Hall stood.
Taken from Dudley: Illustrated by Photographs, W.H. Laxton, 1868.

The anchor for the ill-fated White Star liner was transported by a team of twenty horses from the manufacturers, N.Hingley & Sons Ltd of Netherton, to the London & North Western Railway station at Dudley. From here it was transported to Fleetwood and then onto the Harland & Wolff shipyards in Belfast, Northern Ireland. At this time it was the 'biggest Anchor in the World', weighing 16 tons. The costings for the anchor and the patent still survive.

This quarry existed on the west side of Wrens Nest and was photographed by J.Rhodes as part of a geological survey. Limestone was used throughout Dudley for many purposes, agricultural, building stone and more importantly for the region as flux in iron production. Mining and quarrying of limestone had ceased by 1924.

Due to Dudley Canal being so narrow and with no tow paths the only means of propulsion in the early days was for the boatmen to push their way through. This was either done by pushing against the roof of the tunnel or along the walls. While the horses were led over the top it was said to take boatmen about four hours to leg a fully laden narrow boat through the 3,154 yard tunnel.

This type of event was once a popular part of many of Dudley's celebrations. In the background on the right can be seen the present Dudley Museum & Art Gallery. Next to it stands the Herald newspaper offices.