Step inside the Industrial Revolution at the Black Country Living Museum

When American diplomat and travel writer Elihu Burritt visited the Black Country in 1868, he famously described the area as “black by day and red by night”, a description which gave the area recognised appreciation as the cradle of the industrial revolution.

As the first people to harness the power of steam, the Black Country earned themselves a worldwide reputation – supplying America with its first steam train, and the Titanic with its anchor.

To celebrate this, the museum will be opening its doors after hours on Saturday May 16 for Red By Night, an immersive living history event showcasing the industrial might of the region.

The museum will recreate the distinctive glow described by Burritt as costumed demonstrators and skilled craftsmen bring the 26 acre site to life.

People will be able to witness a full scale replica of the world’s very first successful steam engine, hear the sound of hammers clang and see sparks fly as re-enactors put on live demonstrations, using centuries-old techniques to forge chains, nails and brass.

Families can step inside period houses and shops and discover how Black Country folk lived, stroll through the museum’s cobbled streets and see Dudley College's performing arts department use audio effects and light projections to portray the scale and intensity of the industrial revolution.

Dr John Beckerson, senior curator at the museum said: “This is a fantastic event because it allows visitors to witness the Black Country how it would have been – noisy, smoky and full of life.

"It is all too easy to forget the conditions that people worked in and the consequences of that work but we welcome visitors to come and immerse themselves in this story.”

Tickets for the event, which runs from 7pm to 10.30pm are available at half price rates and must be booked in advance by visiting bclm.co.uk or calling 0121 5208054.