Black Country Day 14 July

Post submitted by Akshita, one of our Student Experience Ambassadors

Black Country Day is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the Black Country region, which includes Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. This area is specifically known for where the coal seam comes to the surface, encompassing locales such as Oldbury, Blackheath, West Bromwich, Cradley Heath, Bilston, Dudley, Old Hill, parts of Halesowen, Tipton, Walsall, Wednesfield and Wednesbury.

Celebrated on July 14th each year, Black Country Day commemorates the invention of the Newcomen engine, the first commercially successful steam engine. Invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712, this engine was first installed at Coneygree Coal Works in Tipton to pump water out of the mines. This invention was pivotal in establishing the Black Country as a significant cultural and industrial hub in the UK, playing a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution.

A visit to the Black Country Living Museum offers a fantastic way to appreciate this mechanical milestone, as it houses the world’s only full-scale replica of the Newcomen engine. Here, visitors can witness firsthand the ingenuity that powered the region’s mines and propelled the Industrial Revolution.

Black Country Day is more than a single day of celebration; it spans the entire month of July with a variety of events and festivities, collectively known as the Black Country Festival. This month-long celebration ensures that everyone can partake in the festivities, which include diverse community events across the four boroughs. The festival transforms the region into a vibrant showcase of community spirit, cultural pride, and heritage, bringing people together to honour the unique legacy of the Black Country.

https://www.blackcountryfestival.co.uk/black-country-festival-events/