Hammer and Sweat

Working in metal from forging to casting. The Midlands has a long and proud heritage in metals from the pioneers at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire to the back street chain workshops of the Black Country. When we look at films from the collection from the later years of the twentieth century that heritage is tinged with loss as the once great industry falls into recession and decline. So from the small workshops of Belbroughton in Worcestershire to the huge Bilston iron foundry here are some of those highlights that made the Midlands the heavy metal capital.