The Folds of Wolverhampton

When the Friends of the Black Country Living Museum wanted an outside visit at short notice, Members Anthony and Joyce Perry drew on their interest in local history and offered a guided walk of the Folds in Wolverhampton. A fourth fund-raising booklet which they produced for St. Peter's Collegiate Church, the Parish Church of Wolverhampton where they worship, entitled "Wool Town Church", looked at how the successful wool and cloth trade enabled much of the Church to be rebuilt to a grander scale in the 15th Century. This research, together with access to City Council deeds and help from Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies and others, has encouraged the writing of the story of the Folds, together with other alleys and courts. Note that the apostrophes have been restored as shown in the old maps! Local connections with the wool and cloth industry are examined, and the order in which the Folds are looked at allows the reader to follow a circular route around the City Centre. It is hoped this book will encourage interest in a part of Wolverhampton's history which has not been given enough prominence, and that readers will want to find out more to add to the story.