The Black Country was given its name because of its extensive coal mining and furnaces and was one of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution. In the South Staffordshire area were deposits of coal, limestone, iron ore and sandstone. These natural resources supplied the huge industrial complexes of the 19th and 20th centuries which had developed from the earlier domestic nail and chain industries. These new heavy industries in the Black Country included iron and steel making, engineering, lock and safe manufacturing, vehicle construction, armament and war-time materiel, rails, locomotives, industrial chain making, sheet iron and steel manufacturing and even boat building, (for the rivers and canals of course), as well as the specialised leather industries of Walsall and glass making in the Stourbridge area of the Stour Valley.The list was endless, but the need to export raw materials and finished goods out of the area, both to nearby Birmingham and to the distant ports meant that canals were being built. Today, most of the heavy industry has gone, as has a lot of the railway lines, but the canals remain mainly for leisure boating and to assist in the natural drainage of the region. But remnants of forgotten times remain with us as either relics of medieval rural life, long lost industry, transport links or pockets of delightful domestic and industrial architecture which are slightly off the beaten track.With the aid of Eric Richardson's drawings taken from his Black Country portfolio, archival photographs and contemporary photographs, this book takes the reader on a tour looking at the some of the "Hidden Gems" of the Black Country that have survived into the 21st century. The ecclesiastical, the civic pride of the Victorians, memorials, conservation areas and buildings and places worthy of restoration as well as the real out of the way "gem" are included in this volume. It is the hope that some of them might induce the reader to make a visit to one of these "Hidden Gems".

From schoolboy author, Eric Richardson, comes The Demonfall, a collection of 3 books including the last and concluding chapter in the trilogy - The Hordes of Rakshar. Decimated by the horrors of The Medtak Bridge, the remnants of the band of heroes which set out to save the land of Richareme from the tyranny of evil Lord Ladracsin have been scattered along the banks of the mighty Medtak river. To resurrect their quest, they will need to draw on magical forces, both good and evil; only then can they hope to confront Ladracsin, his vampiric servant Thomz, and defeat The Hordes of Rakshar. Can they reach the malevolent city of Rakshar? Can they summon the power to defeat Ladracsin? How much must they sacrifice to complete their quest? . . . This 3 book volume brings together all 3 episodes in The Demonfall trilogy - The Brink of Chaos, The Medtak Curse and The Hordes of Rakshar - and reflects the development of author Eric Richardson from 12 year old debut novelist to 18 year old veteran of 3 published books. A non-stop kaleidoscope of blood-spattered action and magical warfare, a fantastic tale of betrayal, resurrection and redemption, Eric has combined all of these in a fi ttingly dramatic conclusion to the Rakshar adventures.

Despite the slaying of warlock, Minister Numbar, and the massacre of his army of Rolxmarr at Krakara, Richareme remains in the deathly grip of tyrannical Lord Ladracsin and is a land on the brink of chaos . . . In their quest to free the land from terror, Harthor, the mighty cleric warrior, and his companions - Zuboko, the half orc druid, and magical wood elf siblings, Aerlyn and Lexon - must first attempt to cross the ancient river of Medtak. Only then, can they reach the malevolent city of Rakshar, home to Lord Ladracsin and his evil acolytes . . . To do so, they must cross the mythical Medtak Bridge and overcome its multitude of demonic guardians - dare they risk The Medtak Curse?! In this sequel to his first novel, the Brink Of Chaos, 14 year old author, Eric Richardson, recounts another epic tale of heroic deeds and bloodcurdling adventure. A tale which will leave readers thirsty for the final chapter of the Rakshar trilogy . . .