Oyster Jack

Oysters were incredibly popular throughout Great Britain in the Victorian era and the Black Country had it's share of street vendors and shops selling this edible mollusc. Read the tragic tale of 'Oyster Jack', who ran such a shop on West Bromwich High Street, in Tales From Four Towns (available in paperback, PDF, and eBook format). Also available from the iBookstore, Barnes & Noble and direct from Penk Publishing (penk.publishing@gmail.com).

Wolverhampton Gunpowder Explosion

The living room of a house in Cobden Steet, off Steelhouse Lane, was virtually destroyed thanks to the carelessness of one young man and he almost killed his young cousin in the process. Read more in Tales From Four Towns

- Death, Destruction, Crime and Notable News From 19th Century Walsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton

Did You Know #2

Old limestone workings underlie the pool at Walsall Arboretum and the deep water claimed two lives in 1845; more details can be found in the book 'Tales From Two Towns'

Racecourse Crime

The racecourses at Walsall and Wolverhampton were a magnet for petty criminals in the 1800's... find out more in Tales From Four Towns.

What's Under Morrisons?

Until the 1860's there was a pool on Camp Street, Wednesbury that provided water for the old condensing beam engine at George and William Lees Adams works.

Read about the serious health hazard this body of water presented and how it was finally dealt with in court in the book 'Tales From Four Towns'.

Poison

Valued for it's pain-killing property, Laudanum was used extensively during the 19th century. Being a concoction of nine tenths alcohol and one tenth opium it was also abused in great measure. Furthermore, being extremely potent, it was a convenient and easy to obtain poison for those seeking a yet darker use for this substance.


One report in Tales From Four Towns tells how a West Bromwich surgeon accidentally poisoned himself by taking a swig of Laudanum when he thought he was drinking brandy!