Location and structure: Dudley is a metropolitan borough (a type of urban district) in the West Midlands county, west of Birmingham and south of Wolverhampton.
It comprises the main town of Dudley (with the famous Dudley Castle and Zoo) plus surrounding towns such as Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford, Lye, Netherton, and Sedgley.
History and character: Formed in 1974 by the merger of Dudley County Borough with Stourbridge and Halesowen.
It lies in the heart of the Black Country, a historic industrial area known for coal mining, iron and steel production, and heavy industry since the Industrial Revolution.
Formerly dominant in mining and the metal industry (nail and chain making, anchors, etc.); nowadays more diverse with plastics, chemicals, electronics, and services.
Mining has largely ceased.
Sights and features: Dudley Castle and Dudley Zoo on Castle Hill (a prominent hill).
Nature: Wren’s Nest (geological reserve with Silurian limestone) and the countryside around the River Stour and Severn.
Mix of urban (Black Country) and somewhat greener areas on the outskirts.
In short: Dudley is a typical industrial Black Country borough with a rich working-class history, which is now a mix of heritage, light industry, and residential areas.
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