429 million years ago the area was under a shallow tropical sea. This was when the coral reef that is now castle hill and Wren’s Nest was formed.
The limestone hills around Dudley are also world famous for the fossils that can be seen in some of the rocks. More than 700 different types of fossil have been found on Wren’s Nest of which 186 were first discovered on the site. 86 species are not found anywhere else on earth.
By 310 millions years ago the tropical seas had disappeared and were replaced by a densely forested swamp. This was the time that the coal, iron ore and fire clay that were to be so important for the industrial revolution started to be formed.
Between 290 and 199 million years ago the area was part of a huge desert. It was the quality of the sand deposits that remained that were to make Stourbridge such an important and world famous glass making area.
RECENT HISTORY
The first Dudley castle was built in 1071 and was the home to the earls of Dudley. More info on the castle in the guide at https://blackcountryvisitorsguide.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=404&action=edit%5B/embed%5D
Originally charcoal was used to heat iron ore to smelt it to make iron. However, Dud Dudley (the illegitimate child of Edward Sutton, the 5th Baron Dudley of Dudley castle) found a way of using coal in the smelting process. On 22nd February 1622 the king issued a patent in the name of Dud’s father. From then on coal was used to smelt iron ore.
In 1712 Thomas Newcomen invented the worlds first steam engine not far from Dudley which played a major part in the industrial revolution. A working replica can be seen at the Black Country Living Museum. More info at https://blackcountryvisitorsguide.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=25&action=edit
For a 1,000 years people have exploited the natural resources in the area only for it to end until 1968 with the closure of Baggeridge Colliery, the last Black Country coal mine.
WHY IS IT CALLED THE BLACK COUNTRY?
This is an often asked question. The main reason it got the name was due to all the smoke and soot from the steam engines and furnaces. It was said the area was black by day and red by night. Another reason is that the coal was very close to the surface so the soil in the area was black.
BLACK COUNTRY VISITORS GUIDE 