[Misc] Black Country Living Museum

[darkwolf666]

Bit of a long shot, but I know what a geographically diverse membership we have on these boards.

The simple question, is it any good, what’s it like?

Over the years I have visited Beamish several times (ex wife was a Geordie) and pre Covid visited Blists Hill Victorian Town and enjoyed both. I love the looking back at how we used to live, in the days before the modern luxuries we so take for granted.

We are going to Shropshire at the end of May and wondered if this was worth giving a go.

Any opinions?

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Never been, but only ever heard good things about it

 

[GT49er]

Bit of a long shot, but I know what a geographically diverse membership we have on these boards.

The simple question, is it any good, what’s it like?

Over the years I have visited Beamish several times (ex wife was a Geordie) and pre Covid visited Blists Hill Victorian Town and enjoyed both. I love the looking back at how we used to live, in the days before the modern luxuries we so take for granted.

We are going to Shropshire at the end of May and wondered if this was worth giving a go.

Any opinions?

It's excellent. Lots to see, and the volunteers who are positioned in some of the shops and houses to explain things and tell local stories are great. The chip shop servies the best chips I've tasted in many a year.
The one downer is that the trams and trolley buses aren't working (or at least, they weren't a couple of years before lockdown, when I last went) ............. and the vintage bus that offers rides up and down the site is actually a ford Transit underneath!
All in all a good day out - highly recommend it.

 

[Gwylan]

I've not been to the museum, so can't give an opinion.

But, if you do head out that way, about three or four miles from the museum is The Crooked House pub, the weirdest boozer I've ever been in. It's like drinking in a giant optical illusion

 

[clapham_gull]

I know a cracking owl sanctuary.

 

[Notters]

Last time I went (admittedly years ago) the Carousel was playing Sussex by the Sea.

Worth a visit I think.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

I haven’t been for over 10 years but enjoyed when I did so - it is very popular with schools! Gwylan mentioned The Crooked House pub - been there several times - mainly 10 - 20 years ago - and he’s right - it is disorienting! The whole place is sloping. Worth a look for sure

 

[jakarta]

Last time I went (admittedly years ago) the Carousel was playing Sussex by the Sea.

Worth a visit I think.

Should have been playing this shirley?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYcQeAnUmNA

 

[strings]

I used to live near there (before I moved further North).

It is good, I would recommend, although I haven't been in 5/6 years. Blists Hill (which you have also mentioned) is my preference, but Black Country Living Museum is a good day out. Make you you get some orange battered chips for an authentic artery-clogging black country experience (not from within the Museum itself).

 

[maffew]

Takes me back, Leggy Henry

We went loads as kids, was a really good day out!

 

[GT49er]

Should have been playing this shirley?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYcQeAnUmNA

Hardly Led Zep's finest moment, that. Would sound even worse on a Fairground organ!

 

[schmunk]

That's racist. It should be called the African American Country Living Museum these days.

 

[Medwayseagull]

I was there last June and enjoyed it as much , if not more , than the Beamish although not all attractions were running at either. I would say they are broadly comparable so ,if you like one, you will like the other.

 

[crodonilson]

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/jul/05/black-country-living-museum-tiktok-viral-john-homer

An interesting article and sounds like on the whole a positive experience but it needs to do more to tell the story of the areas racist past.

 

[darkwolf666]

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated, looks like a definite visit then!

Clearly as there is a lot of knowledge of the area in general, any other recommendations?

 

[darkwolf666]

I know a cracking owl sanctuary.

Trying to work out if this is genuine, or if I've been whooshed!

If it's the former, tell me more!

 

[Dr. No]

Any opinions?

No.

 

[NooBHA]

Bit of a long shot, but I know what a geographically diverse membership we have on these boards.

The simple question, is it any good, what’s it like?

Over the years I have visited Beamish several times (ex wife was a Geordie) and pre Covid visited Blists Hill Victorian Town and enjoyed both. I love the looking back at how we used to live, in the days before the modern luxuries we so take for granted.

We are going to Shropshire at the end of May and wondered if this was worth giving a go.

Any opinions?

I went to it when I first moved to Birmingham - Loved it but I am one of these people who loved old nostalgic things and I love looking at old black and white photos of any part of the country especially large cities. So if you like ''nostalgia'' I think you would really like it

 

[PeterT]

I enjoyed it when I went.

Also recommended is a barge trip through the Dudley tunnels which you can join by the canal side at the museum, if you are a fan of Peaky Blinders, a lot of it was filmed at the Black Country Museum, but I think Tommy and Arthur have moved on now….

 

[GT49er]

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/jul/05/black-country-living-museum-tiktok-viral-john-homer

An interesting article and sounds like on the whole a positive experience but it needs to do more to tell the story of the areas racist past.

No it doesn't. People go there for a day out, a positive and enjoyable experience, looking through a window into the past - not every tourist attraction needs to come with a lecture on racism.