Black Country Museum (1), 1992

“Sidebotham’s Trap Works, originally constructed in Wednesfield, near Wolverhampton in 1913, is a typical example of a small purpose built factory of the period. Wednesfield was a major centre for the manufacture and worldwide export of small animal traps. The stencils hanging from the Belfast Truss roof were used to label the packing cases with destinations of ports in Australia, Africa, South America and many other far-flung destinations. The stamping, pressing and punching machines are driven by lineshafting from a single cylinder gas engine of 1906, built by Tangye’s of Smethwick. The forge hearth was used to make the springs which operated the traps and parts were assembled on benches using the hand-operated fly presses, before being painted or ‘blacked’ in tanks by the canalside wall and packed for delivery.”

The original school was built in 1842, in Salop Street in Dudley, near St James Church and was designed by the architect, William Bourne of Dudley. It was built to accommodate 300 children, but probably never taught that many. It was moved to the Museum in 1991 using funds generously provided by the Charles Hayward Trust. Today you can see it as it would have been in 1912. Originally boys over 7 were taught in one part of the building and the girls and infants in the other. In 1868 the two halves were amalgamated to form a mixed school. The school building suffered from poor natural lighting and unsuitable heating and by 1904 conditions were so bad that it was recommended that the school be closed. Dudley Education Committee was reluctant to do this and in 1906 moved the mixed school to another school, while St James continued as an infants school only. Improvements were made in 1912 and it continued as a school right up to 1980.

This picture from January 2006 shows the Dudley Tunnel, and the Black Country Museum.

"The original building came from Piper's Row in Wolverhampton and was built in the first half of the nineteenth century. The hardware shop sold everything for the home, particularly products like tin baths, enamel-ware and lamps made in the area and in traditional Black Country style the exterior of the shop is festooned in merchandise. The premises now act as an extension of the ironmonger’s shop next door."

The Two Ronnies... youtu.be/gi_6SaqVQSw .