Industrial Heritage

 

Dudley is located in the heart of the Black Country, which comprises parts of Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall boroughs and the City of Wolverhampton.

 

The Dudley district was one of the early centres of the Industrial Revolution, based on the mineral wealth of the area: its coal, iron ore, limestone, and fireclay. Depending on who tells the story, the Black Country gained its name from either the smoke from the factory chimneys in the 18th and 19th centuries - or the rich loamy earth and the eight foot coal seam which dominated the area.

 

Dudley's stake in the iron trade was considerable with John Wilkinson constructing the magnificent feat of Ironbridge on the River Severn in 1779. Nails made in Dudley were used in the building of Nonesuch Palace and Hampton Court, and one of the best known families in the trade were Foley's.

 

From the modest beginnings as one of the many small chainmakers working in Cradley and Netherton, Noah Hingley built up an integrated industrial combine which manufactured anchors, cables and chains from iron made in his own works using coal from the mines he leased from the Earl of Dudley.

 

The Chain and Anchor Works owned by N. Hingley & Sons Ltd were built at Netherton in 1845 and produced equipment for many famous ships including the ill-fated Titanic. The Anchor weighed sixteen tons and was the largest in the world. Castings and patent still survive.