I was recently asked by The History Press to provide a review for a newly published book entitled 'Walsall Then & Now by David F. Vodden. The book is from the series Britain in old photographs. It is with great pleasure that I am able to provide the following:
"Walsall Then & Now" is a wonderful pictorial record of past and present Walsall. It provides readers with a detailed insight into the losses the town has suffered in the name of "Progress". By comparing the old photographic images with the recent images, it is possible for one to see the history that has slipped away and can never be replaced. I am in agreement with the author that it was "right to carry out slum clearance" but why have so many of our towns been decimated by the changes that began in the 1960s? Did no one have the foresight to see that the wonderful architecture that was razed to the ground could never be replaced? A considerable amount of work has gone into this publication; for anyone researching their ancestors whose origins are in Walsall, this is a treasure trove of information, providing details of buildings long gone. I definitely recommend this book as an invaluable source of information for your family history. It is, however, also a wonderful step back in time for anyone interested in local history. A 'must have' book for your collection. (J L James, Black Country Genealogy & Family History, 18 November 2011.)
Here is a link to the YouTube video 'Walsall Then & Now - A Pictorial History'
