It’s coming up to Christmas, and Stuart Williams and Walsall Local History Centre have a message for readers of the Brownhills Blog…

Picture by Libby Warren

With Christmas coming, Walsall Local History Centre is launching its latest book by staff member Stuart Williams – Walsall Borough Past & Present – in timely fashion!

The new A5 softback book, which is illustrated in both black and white and colour, offers brief histories of ten towns and villages in Walsall Metropolitan Borough as well as fifty period location photographs plus fifty matching pictures specially taken by the author in 2013.

Walsall Borough Past & Present includes Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Pelsall, Rushall, Streetly, Walsall, Walsall Wood and Willenhall, and aims to reflect the fascinatingly diverse heritage of the borough while illustrating that time never stands still.

And with stock expected to be delivered to the Centre on 13th December, it should make the ideal Christmas gift for anyone interested in the history of the area!

The price of the book is £7.50 plus postage if required – contact the Centre on 01922 721305 to check postage costs.

Book signing at Waterstones

Stuart, who is also the editor of the Bloxwich Telegraph, will take part in a special book signing session on Saturday 14 December between 3pm – 5pm at Waterstones book store in Park Street, Walsall, where he will be signing the new book as well as his previous two books.  Signed copies will also be made available on request at Walsall Local History Centre in Essex Street.

Customers are advised to telephone 01922 721305 or email localhistorycentre@walsall.gov.uk to check stock availability and opening hours before making a special journey to the Centre.

The Centre sells a wide range of other local history publications in its Reception Shop, including books by Ann French, Sue Satterthwaite and other local authors.

Walsall Borough Past & Present will also be available from Walsall Leather Museum, Walsall Museum and Waterstones Walsall bookshop.

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

Why not check out the website?  www.walsall.gov.uk/localhistorycentre