Book excerpt: This book provides a rounded account of the history of Dudley, starting before the Norman Conquest. It traces the development of industry in the town, and shows how the lack of utilities, including water, hampered the nineteenth-century town and forced a section of the population into desperate poverty. Major historical treasures remain from this era, however, giving the opportunity for the growth of tourism in the present. The Story of Dudley, compiled by an expert in the area's history, weaves these events together into an accessible, interesting and in-depth history of the town that is sure to delight residents and visitors alike.