Close

Echoes from the deep: A poetic reckoning with the Titanic’s Black Country legacy

The Titanic did not just sink into the Atlantic; it remains anchored in the industrial soul of the Black Country. While the tragedy is often associated with the shipyards of Belfast, its very heart—the massive 15.5-ton main anchor—was forged right here in Netherton

By contributor Malcolm Tilsed
Published

We still remember the legendary sight of 20 shire horses towing that iron giant through the streets of Dudley to begin its journey to history.

Now, a century later, a new voice rises from the depths to ask the questions that still haunt our maritime heritage.

The echoes of that fateful night resonate through time, urging us to reflect on our own lives and the world around us.
The echoes of that fateful night resonate through time, urging us to reflect on our own lives and the world around us.

Malcolm Tilsed’s new poetry collection, Titanic Conspiracy: Beneath the Waves, is more than a historical retelling. It is an immersive journey into the emotional truths and "conspiracies" long buried under the weight of the ocean. Drawing on survivor testimonies and a lifetime of maritime fascination, Tilsed weaves a narrative that resonates with our region's pride in world-changing innovation—from the anchors forged in Dudley to the wireless technology that saved 705 lives.

Ten decks of ambition, a palace at sea, With engines that roared like a wild symphony. A hundred-ton rudder, a steel hull so grand, Each plate rolled with purpose, each rivet by hand.
Ten decks of ambition, a palace at sea, With engines that roared like a wild symphony. A hundred-ton rudder, a steel hull so grand, Each plate rolled with purpose, each rivet by hand.

Why local readers should dive in:

  • Industrial Heritage: Connect with the region's unique tie to the disaster, honoring the Black Country craftsmanship that built the "unsinkable" liner's most iconic components.

  • Unveiling Mysteries: Explore provocative verses that delve into the conspiracy theories and "what ifs" of that fateful night.

  • Profound Imagery: 282 pages of poetry accompanied by evocative reflections on loss, survival, and the enduring human spirit.

"I aimed to create a work that not only honours the memory of those lost but also invites readers to engage with the enduring mysteries," says Tilsed. For a region that provided the steel and soul for the world's most famous ship, this collection is an invitation to look beneath the waves and decide for yourselves what truly happened.

Titanic Conspiracy: Beneath the Waves is available now.