Gwyn Richards provides a commentary throughout describing the history and people of the Black Country area of the West Midlands. Doctor John Fletcher of the Black Country Society appears to give pieces to camera about the region.
We see:
The ruined St Mary's Abbey at Halesowen; half timbered houses and the exterior of 19th century workers cottages.
Herbert Davies and Gerald Billingham at work making chains by hand in a forge (Cradley Heath and Quarry Bank). We also see a series of historical stills of Black Country workers.
90-year-old Mrs Hannah Baker is interviewed at her home in Tipton. She lives in a house without electricity with heating from an open grate.
Shots of deserted industrial canals and an abandoned stable.
Vox pops are conducted about the Black Country area (in Wednesbury?).
Next we hear from Joe Mallen who tells stories about dog fighting in the region.
We then see shots of the centre of Dudley.
An unnamed man tells an anecdote leading into scenes in a pub (at Bradley) where the locals are enjoying a traditional pudding and peas night and a pub sing-along.
Next, at the parish church at Wednesbury there are shots of the lecturn which is said to represent a fighting cock. Phil Drabble then describes in detail the techniques of training birds to fight.
The constant change to the area is shown by traffic travelling on a dual carriageway between Birmingham and Wolverhampton and construction work on the new link road.
Finally we return to the pub at Bradley for another song which includes a man whistling an accompaniment.
No credits specified
Joe Mallen also appears in the 1958 BBC documentary 'Joe The Chainsmith'. The pub at Bradley is the George and Dragon also known as the Crown Yard which at the time of this film was run by Charlie and Lydia Lounds.