Old Bike Australasia - June 03, 2018

72 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA

Story and photosStephen Heath.

BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM

W

olverhampton, in the English West

Midlands, was unkindly described by

the future Queen Victoria as “a large

and dirty town”, but during the period

of her reign, grew to be a wealthy one, thanks in no

small part to the manufacture of cars and

motorcycles. The wheeled history of the city began

naturally enough with bicycles, with over 200

manufacturers at one stage. Two of these, Sunbeam

and Rudge, went on to greater things, at least in the

eyes of us motorcyclists. But from 1909 to 1931,

Wolverhampton was also the manufacturing base of

A.J.Stevens & Sons (A.J.S.), which turned out some

of Britain’s finest machines prior to being swallowed

up by Matchless during the Depression.

Today, the Jaguar Land Rover Engine Assembly

Plant is the most recognisable aspect of the city’s

history in the motor manufacturing sector, but the

past is remembered in a carefully preserved area

containing the Black Country Museum. Located in

Dudley, 16km west of Birmingham, this is an open-

air, living museum that began in the mid-1960s on

a derelict piece of land riddled with mine shafts that

was gradually reclaimed. Existing houses, shops,

workshops and public buildings have been disman-

tled brick-by-brick and rebuilt to create an early

20th century village, a tramway system installed in

stages, and the intricate canal system restored prior

to the museum’s opening to the public in 1978.

Since then, over 7 million visitors have experienced

the museum, which is constantly expanding.

There are numerous examples of the motor

vehicles that made Wolverhampton famous; buses,

trucks, trams, trolleybuses, cars, and of course,

motorcycles. Currently, the two wheelers number

around 40, all of which originated in the Black

Country. AJS and Sunbeam dominate, but there are

also lesser-known makes. A walk down the village’s

main street is a trip back in time, with quaint shops,

cottages and industrial buildings, just as they were

during the boom times. As long as you don’t suffer

from claustrophobia, you can even take a tour

through one of the original mine shafts. The Black

Country Museum is definitely a must-visit if you find

yourself in the area. ■

lives in Dudley

History

Restored section of the canals.

More of Wolverhampton’s finest.

Another delivery of pork pies.