The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, West Midlands has opened three new shops as part of its new 1940s to 1960s high street.
The themed shops are Halesowen and Hasbury Co-op, Spring Hill Post Office and Langer’s Army & Navy Stores. The latter is a recreation of a well-known military surplus shop in Stourbridge run by a former German prisoner of war.
Carol King, director of content at the Black Country Living Museum, said: “Step into our 1940s to 1960s high street and you’re not just visiting history – you’re living it.
“From the shelves of the Co-op to the counter of the post office, every detail tells a story of resilience, innovation and community spirit that defined the Black Country.”
“This isn’t just about preserving the past; it’s about bringing it to life for new generations to experience and understand,” King added.
Each new shop at the museum was created with support from the Black Country community. Donated items include Airfix models, birthday cards, motorcycle helmets and rucksacks.
In the military surplus shop, guests will meet a portrayal of Herbert Langer, the former German prisoner of war who established the store in the 1950s.
Langer’s family, including his son Steve Langer, contributed to the project. He said: “My dad would have been so emotional and overwhelmed that someone thought that much of him to do something like this and recreate something that was his life and that he loved… It feels like my dad’s shop. It feels like coming home.”
Black Country Living Museum expansion
At Spring Hill Post Office, guests can meet a portrayal of Stan Nettleton, whose family ran the facility in Penn, Wolverhampton for 40 years. In this shop, there are toys, models and greeting cards.
Langer’s Army & Navy Stores and Spring Hill Post Office opened on 1 July. The Halesowen and Hasbury Co-op opens today (4 July). Here, guests can see reproduced packaging with Co-op’s branding.
The Black Country Living Museum opened its new high street last year.
Images courtesy of Black Country Living Museum
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