Biddle & Webb are teaming up with Sandwell Museums to offer summer valuation events

Sandwell; if you know where it is in the first place (it’s the part of the Black Country made up of West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Smethwick, Oldbury, Rowley Regis and Tipton by the way) for many is a really unlikely place to find some of the most important historic buildings in the West Midlands and a fantastic array of museums. Sandwell Museum and Arts Service looks after six sites including historic houses and buildings dating from the 1270s up to the 1890s.

Our oldest building and newest museum is The Manor House, or Bromwich Hall, built in the 1270s at the centre of the medieval manor of West Bromwich.  After being a pub and restaurant for over 40 years The Manor House came into the guardianship of Sandwell Museums in 2010.

Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery is a purpose built museum on the edge of the town centre, displaying a collection of Victorian paintings donated by the Richards family in the 1890s, old toys, the new Nostalgia Rooms with room displays from the 60s and 70s. There is a large collection of Ruskin pottery as well as a programme of temporary exhibitions.

There’s also Oak House in West Bromwich, an early 17^th century lower gentry house owned by John Turton from 1634 who was a Puritan looking to raise his family wealth and importance, Haden Hill House in Cradley Heath, a Victorian gentleman’s residence, Galton Valley Canal Pump Station in Smethwick and Bishop Asbury’s Cottage, a tiny cottage which was the childhood home of probably the most famous person you’ve never heard of!

All in all some great stories and locations to discover!

By Jane Hanney

Museum Services Manager

Sandwell Museum Service

www.sandwell.gov.uk/museums

www.facebook.com/sandwellmuseums

Biddle & Webb are delighted to be hosting two valuation events at Sandwell Museums this summer. Entrance is free. Consignment to auction is available on the day.

Thursday 13^th July, Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery, 10am-12pm (introductory talk at 10am) – click here for details

Saturday 29^th July, The Manor House Museum, 10am-1pm – click here for details

For more information visit www.biddleandwebb.com or call 0121 455 8042.

We look forward to seeing you there!