Happy Black Country Day! 🏭🥳🍻

I was just trying to think of celebrities who came from the Black Country. I came up with Lenny Henry (Dudley), my mother-in-law used to work with his mother, Josie Lawrence (Quarry Bonk) - remember her character Florence From Cradley, Cedric Hardwick (Lye). Robert Plant (West Bromwich and went to Stourbridge College Of Art. There was a famous footballer Duncan Edwards who was born in Dudley but sadly died at 22 in the Manchester United air crash. I can’t think of any more but there must be lots.

We used to queue up at Lewis's to see Father Christmas. He had a sidekick Uncle Holly who used to help out when the queues were too long.

Thank you Jane!
Where is Mr Jane from?

I have a photo of me sitting on Father Christmas's knee in Beatties.

C&A Modes was my go-to shop when I was a teenager!
I can remember when the Mander Centre was built.

The 1960s, known as the swinging sixties, saw an influx of famous pop stars, who performed at the Gaumont on Snow Hill, including Gene Vincent who appeared there in 1960, The Beatles who were there in 1963
I was there when The Beatles performed!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202307/medium-536510-996d47a2-d047-4a51-a484-394e42ef6d9e.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202307/medium-159784-bd0ee5b1-9f9a-416a-ac7d-6e71b84f5f49.jpeg

The Beehive.
Carrot looks like he’s had a few… 🍻

I’m an honorary Black Country wench of 58 years. I lived in Worcestershire for 21 years then a married a wonderful Black Country boy. Happy Black Country Day to all, yo’m luvlay.

Oh I love Carrot! He’s currently in The Archers.

Don't remember the Beehive but do know my friends mum worked there along with Jasper Carrot.

Beverley Knight, a proud Wulfrunion, was at the BCM.
Pictured with her is the new Mayor of Dudley, Andrea Goddard

I got lots of clothes from Oasis too in the 80s. I was a bit like a cross between a goth and a punk. A bit like Strawberry Switchblade if you remember them.
I loved those long skirts with fringes at the bottom made in India.
And winkle pickers and brothel creepers!

I used to get lots of my clothes from Oasis. Lovely cheesecloth shirts and stuff. Its still there but sadly not what it was. My favourite clothes shop was Henrys in Union Street. Lovely mini skirts for 50p. Anyone remember a store called The Beehive in Brum?

Oh really? I’ll have to look for that Turner. Thanks

Beatties had models walking around the restaurant, used to be allowed a Kunzle cake as a treat, top floor, next to its little lending library (a very long time ago).
I remember them ringing the hand bell to close the outdoor Market for the last time, (now replaced with the awful Civic Centre); been in the centre of W'ton for centuries and Turner painted it.

NanKate my mom was a big fan of Beatties.
We often used to go to the ones in Dudley and Wolverhampton.
She did a lot of dressmaking, so we’d spend a lot of time in the haberdashery department.

I remember the models in the restaurant in the Dudley branch.
I used to love having a milk shake in a posh knickerbocker glory glass there.
And cream cakes off the trolley.

I must have been about six, seven, eight…

The Dudley shop had lots of stairwells where the scary punks loitered about smoking.
Little did I know that I’d soon become something similar.

A clash of two worlds, it’s like something from a film.

Happy days indeed 🥲

Anyone remember the greeting ‘Hello my lover’ and ‘I’m going to catch the buzz’?

I remember Rackhams well Fanny. In the Restaurant upstairs they used to have live models walking around wearing the latest fashions. I’m a lot older than you so that may have been stopped in later years.

Do you remember Barrows another department store? Also Lewis’s that had a so called Zoo on the roof. To be honest it was only a few rabbits and gerbils etc but I was impressed.

I don’t remember Oasis, but I visited the Kardomah for a frothy coffee in a glass/Pyrex cup and saucer.

Happy Days.

Callistemon21

I've only been to Derby once, I'm surprised it's unfriendly.

I suppose that it’s not ‘unfriendly’ as such, Calli, perhaps that’s a bit harsh, but it’s definitely not as friendly, and definitely not ‘chatty’.

I’ve also come across some very rude young and middle aged men in pubs, whereas it’s not like that at all in pubs there.

When MrC goes into places local to my dad, he is always blown away by how friendly and chatty everyone is.

I was recently talking on FB to an old Brummie punk.
He worked at Oasis at the same time as Boy George (he used to be one of my heroes, but I’m not too keen now)

Thanks NanKate I love Birmingham.
I used to go at least three times a week in my teens, shopping and going to gigs.

The Rag Market was my absolute favourite haunt.

Do you remember the shop Oasis?
(Not the chain store!)

And I’m sure that you know the term ‘Round the back of Rackhams’! 😉
I bunked off school once with my friend Natalie and we spent the whole day in Rackhams, we thought it was so glamorous…

Blinko

Great to see the BC championed here on GN. And to see how many of us there are both far and near.

Thank you Blinko, I’m glad that I started it

Kate Babby Road!

Hello Whiff I’m so sorry that you had a tough time at Ellowes Hall, I would hope that that was a sign of the times, rather than a reflection on Black Country folk.
There are good and bad everywhere.
I’m glad that you are happy now.

Wolverhampton is indeed part of the BC, I posted a map of the four areas up thread.

The story of the BC being so named because of industry is well known, but my late maternal grandmother reckoned that the name predates the Industrial Revolution, and was a reference to the nature and colour of the soil.
Many Old English place names are connected to soil, their nature and qualities.
Soil would have been a massive deal for people then, plants and vegetable growing being so vital.

I lived in the Black country from 1964 until 2019. Never knew there was a Black country day . But I get annoyed when people claim Birmingham and Wolverhampton are black country they are not.

Black country covers Dudley,Sedgley,Gornal wood,lower Gornal,upper Gornal, Stourbridge,Wollaston ,Wollescote,Lye,Quarry bank ,Cradley, Cradley heath, Netherton, Brierley hill,Pensnett, Kingswinford and a few more I can't think of off the top of my head.

The black country was so name because of all the heavy industries like chain makers and including glassworks. Because it has a large canal network raw materials where shipped in and produced goods out.

In Gornal they used to say you put a pig on the wall to watch the band go by. Never found out why. Faggots and pease is a favourite dish. Pease is grey peas you soak in bicarb before boiling.

Himley hall was where the Lord of Dudley lived. When I left it was council offices and weddings could be held there. Beautiful grounds and fishing ponds.

Even though I had a happy time being brought there . I suffered bullying at Ellowes Hall school daily which made my life a misery some of the teachers where as bad as some of the pupils .

I moved to the north west in 2019. And would never go back to the black country . Here people are so much nicer and helpful. I am disabled and not had any abuse shouted at me and people are caring and helpful.

I’m a proud Brummie, even though I haven’t lived there since I was 11.

My maternal Nan is buried in the Black Country, she lived in a small cottage in Cheslyn Hay, which I remember as being pretty dire in the 1950s but I’m sure things will have improved over the last 70 years.

When we visited the Black Country Museum a year or so back and I heard the humour of the locals, I felt so nostalgic for those days of my childhood when my parents and I would laugh so much at the jokes we heard.

I hope you have had a happy BC Day Fanny 🥳

OMG, dh was born in Walsall Wood and he has never mentioned Black Country Day.
I shall be having a chat when he gets in from the Friday night ritual 3 pints.
Happy Black country day ,ope it`s a bostin one lol.

Cheers, all you BLers! 🥂