Work is under way on a £40,000 facelift of a replica 18th century steam engine central to the Black Country’s industrial heritage.

A new viewing platform is being built to give visitors to the Black Country Living Museum a closer look at how it works.

The replica is of industrialist Thomas Newcomen’s 1712 engine and has been on display at the attraction at Dudley for 25 years.

It has been shut to visitors since August for the renovation project, which will give people a better view of the water being pumped from the well into the culvert.

Workers are now currently repairing brickwork as the first phase of the work gets under way. The oak head frame will be replaced, which will be the thing visitors will notice the most.

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