Christmas is coming, and Walsall Local History Centre is just the place for those special gifts. A very seasonal picture by Stuart Williams.

So, what do you buy the person who has everything? I suppose penicillin might be a start, but until that’s available over the counter, there’s some great ideas from Walsall Council.

I’ve been sent a couple of press releases in the last couple of days, which have made me think. Christmas is now bearing down upon us, and if you have a relative who likes to remember the old days, is interested in the history of the town around them or perhaps they’re already into local history, these great items could make excellent gifts. For all of these folk and more, please check out the range of great value local history books and even a DVD.

Don’t forget that at Downes Newsagents in Brownhills, you can purchase reprints of several great local local history books on Brownhills, Walsall Wood and further afield, while stocks last. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: local history books have a limited commercial timespan, so pick them up at your earliest opportunity. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, and at these prices you can’t go wrong.

A top book by Stuart Williams, published by Walsall Local History Centre.

First up, book deals at Walsall Local History Centre:

Make the past a special present for Christmas with Walsall Local History Centre

Walsall Local History Centre has a number of special gifts on sale which would make memorable Christmas presents for a loved one.

The history centre is offering packages of local history books at special prices, from stocking fillers to works that will last a lifetime.

Just a few examples now on sale from the centre’s stock include:

Yow’m Nicked plus Ta-ra a bit ‘err ‘itler by Ann French – £13.00.

• Around the Town plus Billy Meikle’s Window on Walsall by Stuart Williams – £5.00.
• Black Country Theatres or Black Country Cinemas by Ned Williams plus Leisure in Walsall – £26.00.
• Leaving the Village by Sue Satterthwaite plus Street Names of Aldridge, Rushall, Streetly & Pheasey – £11.00.
• Walsall Lives Calendar by John Griffiths – £6.99.
• Walsall in Recorded Memory DVD – £5.00.

 There’s also a vast collection of nostalgic old photographs, prints of which can be made to order.

Whichever town or village in the borough is YOUR home, there’s sure to be something to fascinate and excite at the Centre in Essex Street, Walsall. Why not drop in today? Telephone 01922 721305 for details and opening hours.

Walsall Local History Centre is the archives and local studies service for Walsall Metropolitan Borough, and is part of Walsall Council.

A a rather special DVD available from Walsall Museum – I must bag a copy of this myself. It sounds superb.

Looking for a special local gift this Christmas?

A special DVD on sale at Walsall Museum makes the perfect Christmas present for anyone with an interest in the local area.

The DVD, entitled Walsall in Recorded Memory, features a series of recordings of local people sharing their memories of life in the borough during the 20th century, along with a series of historic photographs of local scenes. The DVD was put together by Walsall Local History Centre based on their historic archives for the borough, and is very popular as a present for people from the borough who now live further afield.

The Mmseum’s sale area also stocks a selection of books about local history and for those looking for a more affordable gift, fridge magnets with local scenes. For a truly local touch we even have Christmas cards with appropriately snowy local scenes.

There are plenty of things for the little ones too. Paper fans, stretchy aliens, bouncing putty and sticky splatters make the perfect stocking filler, guaranteed to keep the kids amused over the Christmas holidays.

You can find Walsall Museum’s sales area in our local history gallery on the first floor of the Central Library building. We’re open Tuesdays to Fridays 10am – 5pm and Saturdays 10am – 4pm, and will be open until 1pm on Christmas Eve.

For further information please contact the museum on 01922 653116 or email museum@walsall.gov.uk.