Black Country Living Museum

Live it! Learn it! Engaging hearts and minds through active experience.

Bring your students along to the Black Country Living Museum for an exciting and engaging learning experience. We offer a unique and personal service through the provision of costumed guides who tailor your visit to meet the individual needs of your group.

A visit to our site can cover many areas of the history curriculum, including Local History Studies, the Victorians, Toys Past and Present, Houses and Homes, The Industrial Revolution, Exploring the Engineering World, and Britain since 1930. To enhance your visit we also offer free museum-led sessions including a Victorian Classroom Experience, an Underground Mine Tour and a hands-on toys workshop.

The Black Country as a distinct area emerged in the 1830s, creating the first industrial landscape anywhere in the world – “black by day and red by night”. The Museum tells the story of the life-styles, cultures, traditions and industries of the people living here from 1850-1950. It is the story of things being made as well as lives being led, and so offers learning opportunities for a broad range of curriculum subjects in addition to history.

To take advantage of this, from January 2012 the Museum will be offering a new range of cross-curricular hands-on workshops exploring science, technology, engineering, mathematics, art and design and citizenship within a heritage setting. This will include: for KS1, Moving Pictures and Vehicles, for KS2 Storybooks, Moving Toys, Lighting it up, Fairgrounds and Controllable Vehicles, and for KS2-4 Structures, Controllable Vehicles, Pewter Casting, and Product Design. 

We had a super time – thank you. The guides were super as were the ladies/gentlemen in the different parts of the Museum...

Brownlow Primary School May 2011 -

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Night at the Museum*
19 May 2012

Join the Black Country Living Museum in its annual celebration ‘Night at the Museum’ when along with hundreds of European museums, galleries, libraries and heritage sites, it will open its doors after hours for this special evening event at half the usual admission price. As dusk falls, the Museum will be illuminated by gas and candlelight offering an atmospheric setting for a family night out. Visitors can enjoy musical entertainers; street performers, choirs singing in the chapel and brass bands performing in the Workers’ Institute. Join in with circus skill games, animal balloon making and face painting. Tuck in to tasty traditional food and drink and enjoy an evening full of traditional family entertainment.

*This is a pre-purchase only event.

Book HALF PRICE tickets for Night at the Museum online at www.bclm.com/bookings or call 0121 520 8054

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Marvellous Motors!
2 Jun 2012

Vintage cars and motorbikes take a spin of the Museum's circuit. Motoring marvels from the early 1900s up to the 1930s take centre stage and these rare gems are sure to be the torque of the town!

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It's all Fun & Games! Half Term Activities
2 Jun 2012 to 10 Jun 2012

It’s all fun and games this Half term at the Museum! Visitors can join in and compete in traditional games and activities in Folkes’s Park. Discover the delights of playtime in the last century and teach the young ones how to banish boredom with traditional street games including hopscotch and skipping. Test your skill with a cup and ball and the whip and top. Take up the challenge to see how long you can keep the hoop rolling in the hoop and stick game and attempt to knock over all nine pins in a game of skittles. For something a little more peaceful you can join in with parlour games in Station Road Cottages.
Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Diamond Jubilee Celebration*
5 Jun 2012

The Museum will be celebrating HRH the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a traditional street party theme. Join in a royal celebration as our ancestors once did. Visitors can enjoy a street party with traditional entertainment to ensure a truly memorable day. Entertainment includes street performers, circus skills, balloon animal making, musical entertainment, sing alongs and themed crafts. Show you patriotism and have your face painted with the union jack.

All visitors can join in the party atmosphere, however there is an optional pre-purchase ticket to sit down and enjoy the street party food.

*Party food and sit down tickets are pre-book only on 0121 520 8054

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Steam Power
9 Jun 2012

Get all steamed up as volunteers demonstrate steam power, when the colliery steam winder and fan engine turn the pressure on! Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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100 years on – The Cradley Heath Workers’ Institute
10 Jun 2012

Join the Museum in celebrating the centenary of the Cradley Heath Workers Institute. Visitors will be able to see re-enactments and street performances based on the 100 years history of the Workers’ Institute and Mary Macarthur. Further details to be confirmed.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Macbeth* Performed by The Lord Chamberlains Men
15 Jun 2012

Building on the success of last year’s performance, the Black Country Living Museum welcomes the return of The Lord Chamberlains Men to perform Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.

A ghostly tale featuring apparitions, action packed sword fights and a promise of a blood-soaked conclusion is sure to get the heart racing this summer! Performed in the unique setting of the Museum’s canalside this recital of the ‘Scottish play’ will create a truly exceptional experience. See The Lord Chamberlains Men perform this devastating and gripping thriller in open-air theatre built upon principles that Shakespeare himself followed.

Prior to the show visitors are invited to picnic in the beautiful Folkes’ park. Arrival is from 4.30pm, performance commences at 7.30pm. The Workers’ Institute Café will be open for food and drinks before the show and during the interval.

*This is a pre purchase only event. Book tickets for Macbeth online www.bclm.com/bookings or call 0121 520 8054

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Steam Power
16 Jun 2012

Get all steamed up as volunteers demonstrate steam power, when the colliery steam winder and fan engine turn the pressure on!

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Father's Day
17 Jun 2012

Treat your Dad to a special day out with a visit to the Museum. As a Father’s Day special, tickets are HALF PRICE for all Dads when accompanied by a paying child (any age). Travel back in time on a vintage tram, see the vintage cars and bikes on display, kit your dad out with a new flat cap or outfit at Morralls’, the 1930s Gentlemen’s Outfitters. Explore the family discovery trail, get your camera ready and climb aboard a vintage car. All the family can get hands on at the activity centre with making a pewter casting of their very own transport themed keyring. Make a fuss of Dad and buy him a pint of real Black Country ale in the Bottle & Glass Inn and a traditionally cooked fish and chip dinner at Hobbs’ and Sons fish and chip shop. For an extra special treat, you could enjoy a father’s day lunch in the new Workers Institute Café.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Olympic Torch Relay*
30 Jun 2012

The Museum will be closed on this date for the Olympic Torch Relay.

The Olympic Flame will be visiting Black Country Living Museum as part of its journey around the UK.
Black Country Living Museum will shine the spotlight on the Black Country’s rich and diverse heritage when the Museum hosts the Olympic Torch relay on Saturday 30 June, 2012. The Museum is so proud to welcome the Olympic Torch to Black Country Living Museum - on behalf of the Black Country. It is a real
honour for the region and is one for the history books. It’s a chapter in our lives we will tell our children, grandchildren and if we’re lucky – our great children about.

*This is a pre-booked ticket only event. Tickets for this day free of charge, however will be very limited and pre-book only. Tickets will be available to book closer to the date. Full details will be confirmed on the Museum’s website www.bclm.com

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Sunday School Anniversary
8 Jul 2012

Friends of the Museum open the doors to the 1837 Darby Hand Chapel and invite visitors to join them as they re-enact a traditional Sunday School Anniversary Service. Children in traditional costume head a procession along the village street to the Chapel where they will lead the congregation in traditional hymns. Services take place at 11am and 2.30pm; in keeping with tradition, the afternoon service will be presided over by a Lady Preacher. 11am - 2.30pm

For this activity, there is a limited amount of seating and places will need to be pre-booked

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Steam Weekend, Celebrating the Tercentenary of the Newcomen Engine
14 Jul 2012 to 15 Jul 2012

The Museum invites you to join in and celebrate 300 years of the Newcomen Steam Engine at this Steam weekend event. See the world’s only working replica of the world’s first successful steam engine, Newcomen Steam Engine in action as it re-opens for the first time after a £60,000 restoration programme.

The Museum celebrates steam power this weekend with a range of different steam engines around the site. From large traction engines to miniature Mammod models, and steam toys in the Albion depot; it will be full steam ahead around the Museum’s Village. The colliery steam winder and fan engine will be in operation and President, the only preserved steam powered narrowboat on the waterways will certainly be a sight not to be missed.
Visitors of all ages can explore steam power on the family discovery trail, see the interactive Newcomen show, join in with ‘Marvellous Mechanisms’ crafting activities, have a go and experience poetry writing and enjoy performances of poetry readings. The Museum will also welcome television presenter, Adam Hart-Davies as he delivers a Newcomen Society Lecture.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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1940's Evening*
21 Jul 2012 to 21 Jul 2012

An evening of 1940s entertainment, the Museum's village will be full of 40s spirit, street performers and musical entertainment. Visitors can join in and dress up or simply experience what it was like to live and party in the 40s.

*This is a pre-purchase ticket only event, for more details visit www.bclm.com or call 0121 5208054

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Marvellous Mechanisms! Summer Holiday Activities
21 Jul 2012 to 2 Sep 2012

This summer the Museum is celebrating its Marvellous Mechanisms. Visitors can follow the family discovery trail around the Museum and explore some of history’s greatest mechanisms. Visit the Newcomen Engine, the world’s first steam engine and join in with ‘Hands on Heritage’ to make your own marvellous mechanism.
Discover how your ancestors used to play; and join in with the traditional street games in the Museum’s village including hopscotch and skipping. Test your skill with a cup and ball and the whip and top. Take up the challenge to see how long you can keep the hoop rolling in the hoop and stick game, and attempt to knock over all nine pins in a game of skittles. For something more peaceful join in with parlour games in the Station Road Cottages.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Festival of Black Country Vehicles
29 Jul 2012

This annual gathering of cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles sees over one hundred Black Country made vehicles driving around the Museum.
The Black Country was a major centre for vehicle manufacturing with cycles, motorcycles, cars, lorries and buses all built in the region. Visitors can see first hand well-known historical names such as AJS, Bean, Star, Sunbeam and Jensen. This names just a few of the automotive marques that put Black Country manufacturing on the map.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Steam Power
11 Aug 2012

Get all steamed up as volunteers demonstrate steam power, when the colliery steam winder and fan engine turn the pressure on!

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Steam Power
18 Aug 2012

Get all steamed up as volunteers demonstrate steam power, when the colliery steam winder and fan engine turn the pressure on!

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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HALF PRICE Family Night*
18 Aug 2012

Enjoy a Saturday night of traditional family entertainment when the Museum opens its doors after hours for half the usual admission price.

The Museum is brought to life with musical entertainment, street performers, circus skill games, face painting, balloon animal making, Punch and Judy and much more. Enjoy a pint of real ale and sing along with the pianist in the Bottle and Glass Inn or tuck into the tasty fish and chips – cooked 1930s style.

*This is a pre-purchase ticket only event. All Museum tickets half price. Pre-purchase tickets online at www.bclm.com/bookings or call 0121 520 8054

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The Locksmith’s House, Willenhall - Free Open Day*
8 Sep 2012

As part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme, the Locksmith’s House will throw open its doors giving visitors the opportunity to explore the house and workshops for free. Demonstrations will bring the house and workshops to life and provides a chance to see the only surviving lock-maker’s house and workshop in Willenhall, which was once the UK’s, lock-making capital. Explore the home of the Hodson family of lock makers, who first lived here over a century ago and soak up the atmosphere of the gas lit rooms. Hear the clatter of belt driven machinery in the workshop and find out more about the trade that made Willenhall famous. There will also be a chance to chat to the Locksmith's House archivist about work behind the scenes. Drop in any time between 10am and 4pm to explore this unique home and workplace.

*Please note this event is not at Black Country Living Museum, and takes place at The Locksmith’s House, Willenhall.

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Steam Power
8 Sep 2012

Get all steamed up as volunteers demonstrate steam power, when the colliery steam winder and fan engine turn the pressure on!

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Steam Power
15 Sep 2012

Get all steamed up as volunteers demonstrate steam power, when the colliery steam winder and fan engine turn the pressure on!

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Harvest Festival
7 Oct 2012

Join the Friends of the Museum as they bring the 1837 Darby Hand Chapel to life when they re-enact a traditional Harvest Festival Service. The historic chapel is decorated with garden produce and traditional harvest festival offerings. The Friends of the Museum recreate this important aspect of Black Country life when they re-enact a traditional Harvest Festival Service. Service starts at 2.30pm.

For this event, there is a limited amount of seating and places will need to be pre-booked

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Iron Ladies of Cradley Heath - Celebrating the Women Chainmakers, 1910
20 Oct 2012

The Museum recalls the fight of the Cradley Heath Women Chainmakers, who in 1910 went on strike for ten weeks and were successful in winning the first ever minimum wage.

The day will feature a procession of flags, street entertainment, music, crafting activities and theatre from local performers along with stirring speeches. This annual event will ensure the legacy of the Cradley Heath Women Chainmakers lives on.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Gore & Grime! Half Term Activities
20 Oct 2012 to 28 Oct 2012

Horrible historians at Black Country Living Museum are set to disgust and delight with a Halloween themed Gore and Grime Trail. Ghost-busting visitors can follow the revolting route around the Museum village on the hunt for all things gruesome, encountering putrid props, scary spiders, repulsive rats and a hidden mystery surprise.

Learn how to make your own toys and decorations from materials that would have been commonly found around the home, like paper and string. Unleash your wicked side and make your very own Halloween and Bonfire crafts, dangling ghouls or a firework explosion decoration.

See and learn how your ancestors used to play; and join in with the traditional street games in the Museum’s village including hopscotch and skipping. Test your skill with a cup and ball and the whip and top. Take up the challenge to see how long you can keep the hoop rolling in the hoop and stick game, and attempt to knock over all nine pins in a game of skittles. For something more peaceful join in with parlour games in the Station Road Cottages.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Halloween at the Museum*
26 Oct 2012 to 27 Oct 2012

This Halloween, visit the Museum’s eerie gas-lit village where little devils and mini ghosts and ghouls can trick or treat in SAFETY along the Museum’s cobbled streets, collecting sweets as they go.

There is plenty for the family to see and do with activities including; street theatre performances, circus skill games, magic tricks, balloon animal making, face painting, fire juggling and meeting birds of prey. Enjoy a sing along with the pianist in the Bottle & Glass Inn or for a more spiritual experience visit the mystics and psychics. Come along in fancy dress and join the musical parade through the Museum's village and you could win a prize for best dressed adult or child.

*This is a pre purchase only event. Book your tickets online www.bclm.com/bookings or call 0121 520 8054

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Traditional Bonfire Night*
2 Nov 2012 to 3 Nov 2012

A family-orientated Bonfire Night celebrates November 5th with roaring bonfires and traditional entertainment with the added safety of no fireworks. Visitors can enjoy traditional hot roast chestnuts, toffee apples, fire juggling, Punch & Judy shows, musical entertainers, join in and sing along with the pianist in the Bottle & Glass Inn, see the Rolling Mill in action and enjoy the fairground in full swing. The Museum's canal-side village will be lit up with atmospheric candle and gas-lights and visitors can enjoy chatting to characters from yesteryear, the night will be kicked off with a Guy Fawkes doll and lighting of the fire theatrical performance.

Please note, The evening has the added safety of no fireworks.

*This is a pre purchase only event. Book your tickets online www.bclm.com/bookings or call 0121 520 8054

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Remembrance Service - Springfield Brewery War Memorial
11 Nov 2012

The Springfield Brewery war memorial honouring soldiers who lost their lives in both world wars will be at the centre of a Remembrance Service to be held at 11.00am at the Black Country Living Museum.

Book a day visit online and save 10% at www.bclm.com/bookings

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Santa Hunt*
24 Nov 2012 to 24 Dec 2012

The highly popular Santa Hunts are a big hit with children and parents alike. As children embark upon a fun-filled search for Santa costumed guides and magical Christmas clues point the way to Santa's workshop culminating in a surprise gift.

*This is a pre purchase only event. Pre-purchase your tickets by calling the bookings office on 0121 520 8054

Saturday 24, Sunday 25 November, Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 Dec, Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 Dec, Saturday 15 – Monday 24 December

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The Locksmith’s House, Willenhall - Christmas at home with the Edwardians
7 Dec 2012 to 8 Dec 2012

Experience an Edwardian style Christmas when the Locksmith's House opens its doors for this rare event. Christmas at home with the Edwardians is an evening of traditional Christmas activities and entertainment including carol singing by the open fire place, mince pies, mulled wine and hot roast chestnuts.

*Please note this is a pre-purchase ticket only event and takes place at The Locksmith’s House, Willenhall not at Black Country Living Museum. To pre-purchase tickets call the bookings office on 0121 520 8054.

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Traditional Christmas Evenings*
14 Dec 2012 to 22 Dec 2012

The Museum takes on a festive flavour as cottages are illuminated by gas and candlelight, giving off a distinctly magical glow.

Enjoy traditional Christmas entertainment including; carol singing, Black Country comedic panto, street entertainers, brass bands, sing along with the pianist in the Bottle & Glass Inn, hot roast chestnuts, mulled wine, puppet theatre and of course not forgetting you can meet Santa by the fireside.

*This is a pre purchase only event. Book your tickets online www.bclm.com/bookings or call 0121 520 8054

Friday 14, Saturday 15, Thursday 20, Friday 21 & Saturday 22 December

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Carols by Candlelight **
23 Dec 2012

Visitors are invited to join the Friends of the Museum as they bring the 1837 Darby Hand Chapel to life for a traditional candlelit carol service, conjuring up all the atmosphere of Christmas' past. Starting at 2.30pm the service takes place in the Museum's historic Darby Hand Chapel and includes 5 lessons and 10 carols within the service.

For this event, there is a limited amount of seating and places will need to be pre-booked**

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Bell Heath Outdoor Education Centre

Our facilities include residential accommodation in recently refurbished dormitories/toilets/showers, a large dining room and kitchen, and two indoor classrooms.  The centre is fully-accessible via…
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