HISTORIC events which took place throughout Dudley are being set in stone as part of a £6.7 million European and council funded regeneration.

A collection of ornate bronze plaques, outlining important events and buildings of the borough, is currently being installed in Dudley town centre at the Market Place and Castle Street.

The heritage time trail will also be continued into Coronation Gardens as part of the ongoing £1.1 million revamp of that area.

Highlighting important geological and historical events, along with references to well-known building or local personalities, some of the plaques also feature QR codes engraved into the bronze.

This will allow people to instantly access information about the plaques from mobile phone apps.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “These plaques are an important part of the regeneration of Dudley and can be used by visitors to the borough to get a flavour of our heritage.

“They will also be able to be used by schools and anyone interested in finding out more about our important history because the QR codes will soon be linked to more detailed information.”

Dudley News:

The Dudley Time Trail plaque which indicates the the statue of Duncan Edwards.

Each of the 33 square plaques, designed by borough artist Steve Field, feature a date with the text, pictorial borders and the symbol of a Trilobite, the prehistoric Dudley ‘bug’ discovered at Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve.

Some of the plaques highlight events such as the site of a bomb explosion during World War II opposite St. Thomas’s Church, the siege of Dudley Castle in 1646, the location of the Green Man pub which was reputedly haunted, the Finch family halfpenny, Teddy Gray’s well-known sweet shop and ones dedicated to James Whale, director of the 1931 film Frankenstein, and Joe Darby, the World spring jumping champion of 1890.

The regeneration of Dudley town centre, which includes the newly designed market, features new paving and street furniture, along with the relocated Duncan Edwards and restoration of the Earl of Dudley statue and the historic fountain.