For two centuries, England led the world in the manufacture of chain and anchors, and at the end of the nineteenth century the majority of all the chain workshops in England and Wales were based in the Black Country, notably Cradley, Cradley Heath, Old Hill, Quarry Bank and Netherton. Most of the chainshops were very small (many of them were to be found in the backyards of the workers' houses), and a large number of the chain makers were women. The largest firm was Noah Hingley's, which manufactured the anchors and anchor cables of the ill-fated Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, while Samuel Taylor of Brierley Hill forged the anchors for the famous Cunard Queen liners. Including personal reminiscences, photographs and sketches, Chain and Anchor Making in the Black Country is a fascinating and authoritative record of this largely vanished industry. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the Black Country or in this important part of its history.

In this second selection of images of Cradley Heath, Old Hill and district, great use has been made of the marvellous old photographs that can be seen in, and are still being deposited at the Sandwell Community History & Archive Service collection in Smethwick Library. This is an invaluable source of historic information recording the changing face of the area - especially the drastic demolition and rebuilding which took place after the Second World War. This book is sure to give local people a fascinating insight into the area's past, and will be of great interest to anyone who has a sense of the history of this corner of the Black Country.