Old photographs and memories of Shannons Mill from its beginnings as a Victorian clothing mill to its later life as a leather goods factory are being sought by Walsall’s local history centre.

Historians are keen to ensure the historic building gutted by Walsall’s largest fire in 25 years is not forgotten.

Stuart Williams, of Walsall Local History Centre, said: “There is a lot of interest in preserving the history of Shannons Mill and trying to discover some things we didn’t know.

“It is the people’s history we are particularly interested in and we are looking for old photographs, documents, memories or anything else people have showing what Shannons Mill was like in its heyday.

“It was a massively important building in Walsall and was one of the town’s largest employers when it was both a clothing and later a leather goods factory.”

All the information received will be kept at the local history centre in Essex Street and could eventually be compiled into an exhibition which would be taken to various venues around the borough although no decision has been made yet.

Mr Williams added: “Hopefully a lot of people will respond to our plea and once we have gathered together all the information we will discuss exactly what we are going to do with it. “The main thing is we don’t want the people of Walsall to forget about this building.”

John Shannon initially ran a shop selling clothes on the George Street site. 

Following his death in 1875 his son Edmund took over the business and started building the clothing mill which was incorporated as John Shannon & Son Ltd in around 1890.

In around the 1970s the building began a new life as a leather goods factory operating under the name W A Goold with the final staff moving to new premises in 2004.

Work to demolish the mill building in George Street is now expected to continue until September 2 and the site will then remain cordoned off for several weeks while tens of thousands of tonnes of rubble are removed and the land levelled.