Staff at The Black Country Living Museum are celebrating a record-breaking 2009.

The museum enjoyed a 10 per cent rise in visitor numbers during 2009 together with a sell-out Christmas season – with almost 12,000 tickets for festive events being snapped up by December 1. It has been a year of accolades for the Dudley attraction, having scooped first place in the Best Attraction for Group Visits: Long Visit category of the Group Travel Awards.

The Tipton Road attraction was also voted the Black Country’s Bostin’ Daytime Family in the Beacon Radio Awards and tucked a gold award in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category and a silver award for Business/Conference Venue of the Year under its belt at the Black Country Hotel and Tourism Awards.

Fiona Carding, media relations officer, said: “The museum is constantly changing and evolving. Friendly and engaging costumed guides, unique collections, exciting displays and exhibitions all capture the imagination and draw visitors into the fascinating world of the Black Country.

“Visitors returning to the Dudley attraction will discover much more to see and do with more living history displays and a new high street to explore.

“Next year promises even more fascinating developments with the completion and opening of the Oldbury buildings in the museum’s new High Street, Old Birmingham Road”. Attracting more than 290,000 visitors annually from a worldwide visitor base, the 26-acre museum is home to a thriving period community. Shops, houses, and workplaces inhabited by costumed guides have been reclaimed from their original locations and moved brick by brick to the site.

Recent additions to the portfolio of historic Black Country buildings include the Cradley Heath Workers’ Institute, Hobbs Fish and Chip Shop, Morrall’s Gentlemen’s Outfitters, Bradburn and Wedge vehicle showroom and Alex Broome’s Garage.

The museum was opened in 1975 to collect and preserve material relating to the Black Country. Staff research the story of the area, its people and industries and use the information to educate visitors. It prides itself on offering a “living” experience.