It is meant to be the essential guide for visitors getting off the beaten track to see the real England. But the latest Rough Guide simply dismisses the Black Country with one line.
In the 1,015 page book, the region is simply discarded as “that knot of industrial towns clinging to the western side of Birmingham”. Before going on to wax lyrical about the likes of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Guide says: “This area has found it difficult to re-route itself through the maze of post-industrialisation and more amply fulfils the negative stereotypes once attached to Birmingham.”
By contrast the guide devotes 48 pages to The Lake District, an impressive 55 pages to the Costwolds and even Birmingham gets 11 pages with a glowing description of the city’s regeneration.
But a glance at the index gives no indication that Wolverhampton, Walsall or Dudley even exist.
There is no mention of the Black Country Living Museum or Dudley Zoo and Castle, home to some of the world’s biggest, rarest and most exotic creatures.
Nor do Dudley’s 18th-century Himley Hall with its 180 acres of grounds designed by Capability Brown or Walsall’s renowned Leather Museum get a look in.
There is better news for Lichfield though, which gets two pages and is described as a “slow-moving, amenable kind of place”.
Chief executive of the Black Country Living Museum, Ian Walden, was quick to hit back. He said: “We think the Black Country is very important and it certainly has internationally important industrial history and thriving cultural and other attractions.
“The museum’s famous fried fish and chip shop used to appear in the Rough Guide and we will have to remind them of what we and the rest of the Black Country is about.
Estates manager at Himley Hall, Sally Newell, said: “I think it is terribly sad. The Black Country is a wonderful place full of character and charm. We have got some brilliant attractions.
“The very essence of a good guide book is that it includes things for everyone and by not including the Black Country tourists are missing out.
“We have got history, beauty, industry and of course the people also make the Black Country.
“I just think we need to shout a bit louder.”
It is not the first time the region has been insulted in print.
Two years ago a Financial Times article described Wolverhampton as the “armpit of the universe.”
The writers of gossip website Holy Moly also poked fun at the the city saying: “Wolverhampton isn’t the end of the world – but you can see it from there.”
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16 Comments
I’m a Cardiff boy and moved to the black country a few years ago. Don’t get me wrong I am a very proud Welshman and will be till the day I pass on. I have found that with just a very few exceptions the people of the black country are a welcoming and hard working bunch. There’s so much amazing architecture here and a lot of history IF you can see through some of the latter day concrete vandalism. At the end of the day (God I used to hate it when my dad said that) it’s about people , and the black country people am MOSTLY bosting (sorry if I pronounced it wrong).
why do so many imigrants want to come to wolverhampton if there arent any good reviews about it?
The persons who wrote the book must have struggled to spell Wolverhampton so decided to leave it out.
Loads of wonderful places in the black country to see.
I couldn’t agree more - how else could you describe a region who’s main interests are football, drinking, fighting and being unemployed?
Does that surprise anyone ? You’ll be telling me England is a classless society next. The hub of the Industrial Revolution which changed the world is still neglected because it is associated with dirty manufacturing processes and an unusual accent. Queen Victoria closes the train curtain to the smoke and we all celebrate it! Pity the workers who lived in poverty and died of awful diseases. It’s about time Dudley got the respect it deserves starting with a train station, some serious work and investment to the zoo so that it complements that magnificent castle and some general attention to the town centre. Let’s get the football team back into the heart of the town and get them up the leagues. Dudley, the second biggest town in the country has been neglected far too long !
and dudley council are as much to blame, cancelling beer festivals and concerts at the castle as it apparantly gives the wrong image! talk about encouraging tourism :(
Wolverhampton has exactly the reputation and image it deserves
The armpit of the universe would be a compliment right now.
The manner in which Wolverhampton has been allowed to degenerate over the last five years, it is more appropriate to describe it the boil on the backside of a particularly smelly cow.
I can sum up the ‘tourist attractions’ of the Black Country in less than one sentance actually….
Isn’t the rough guide written by Americans? Enough said.
learn some pride you lot, there’s a lot worse places to live in the world, count yourself lucky, the rengeneration projects going on in wolves at the moment are huge. or maybe you’d prefer to live in bagdhad or somalia. armpit of the universe? think about what your saying
Nice one Ed, I almost thought you were being serious, thanks for cheering me up mate!
Spent a lot of time in the Black Country in the 90s, (originally from Wales now living in New Zealand), great place, bostin people. Haven’t been back for about 10 years but on my next trip back to the UK can’t wait to get up to the Black Country for a decent pint of Banks and a good curry.
Crikey talk about kicking yourself when you’re down. I may not be an expert but I thought Wolverhampton wasn’t in the black country anyway. It’s a cliche but look around folks. There are some amazing brick buildings (around the canals especially). Why does it appear that us outsiders seem to trying to stick up for a region that those that are from it are running down ?
I’ve got the previous Rough Guide to Britain and it’s gor quite a few pages on the Black Country; interestingly it describes Walsall as ” a pleasantly stoic town.” I can see no reason why they see fit to ignore it in the latest guide.
Maybe it’s because Black Country people can’t spell the word “got” LOL