Culture and Heritage Project 2025

DCFA was commissioned to deliver a one-off event before the end of March 2025, focused on pop-up exhibitions exploring the cultural and industrial history of Dudley from 1950 to 1970. The research highlighted key industries that provided employment post-World War II, particularly for Caribbean migrants in the Black Country.

A key part of the project involved collecting first-hand stories from 20 members of the local Reconnect Befriending group, most of whom belong to the Windrush generation (aged 80-95). These interviews captured valuable experiences of life and work in the area during this period.

Mrs Enid Barton's Story

Mrs. Enid Barton arrived in Britain in 1956 to join her husband. Not long after settling in, the family suffered a heartbreaking tragedy when a paraffin heater, used to heat their home, caused a fire that resulted in the devastating loss of their two children.

One of Mrs. Barton’s first jobs in the UK was at Hewitt on Burnt Tree Island in Dudley. She later secured employment at Burton Road Hospital, also in Dudley, where she worked for many years until her retirement.

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Upcoming Events!

The Next Culture and Heritage Exhibition will take place on the 16th-22nd June at:
the Black Country Living Museum
Discovery Way
Dudley, DY1 4AL
0121 557 9643

Contact us or the Black Country Museum for more information