Archives

Part of Tame Past Present Future is to train and support people in conducting their own research into the industrial heritage of the River Tame. Many information is held at the local archives. Through the project you will be able to join archive visits, and details of archive material will be included on this blog for anyone wishing to conduct more research. You can also attend training sessions for research and for archiving. For more information contact Jenni (Community Heritage Worker) at tameppf@gmail.com

The River Tame stretches from the Black Country through North Birmingham and into Warwickshire. There are a number of archives that are useful for researching its heritage and the history of the industries along its banks.

The following information is correct as of June 2014.

SANDWELL COMMUNITY HISTORY & ARCHIVE SERVICE (SND)
Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, B66 1AA

Sandwell has the largest amount of documents relating to the Tame in Staffordshire, the areas that it flows through, and the industries that utilised it and often polluted it.

More information, including opening times, here.

STAFFORDSHIRE RECORD OFFICE (STA)
Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ

This is the country record office and has a good selection of items relating to the Tame and its industries.

More information, including opening times, here.

WOLVERHAMPTON CITY ARCHIVES (WLV)
Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SF

Wolverhampton has a few items relating to the river, including extensive documentation of the communications between the different councils to stop the pollution of the river in the 1920s.

More information, including opening times, here.

WALSALL LOCAL HISTORY CENTRE (WAL)
Essex Street, Walsall, WS2 7AS

Leading from Walsall is the Ford Brook, on some maps in the 1800s it is called the Tame. In Walsall the leather industry utilised the water from the river, and there is material at the Local History Centre as well as at the Walsall Leather Museum.

More information, including opening times, here.

BIRMINGHAM ARCHIVES (BIR)
Library of Birmingham, Wolfson Centre for Archival Research, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2ND

Birmingham is the main call for tracing the Tame and its industries through Perry Barr, Witton, Aston, Castle Vale and Castle Bromwich.

More information, including opening times, here.