Black Country gets Rough ride

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."