Rowley Regis, now part of the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, was for a long time a separate entity, being in succession a chapelry, a parish, an Urban District, and a borough. It was made up of a number of separate villages, which later developed into the towns of Tividale, Blackheath, Old Hill and Cradley Heath. The centre was Rowley Village, which remained rural until the mid-20th century, despite the fact that all the villages were industrialised early. One of the most prominent industries was the manufacture of hand-wrought nails.

The main feature of Rowley Regis is its hill range, which rises to about 876 feet at its highest point on Turner's Hill. The hills accentuate the district's isolation, which is probably a contributory factor in the renowned independence of the inhabitants. Dolerite, which is still being quarried, is the principal component, and there are coal measures, broken up by geological faults, on either side. Mining and quarrying were major industries here, and have inevitably left their mark.

This attractive and pioneering new book explores the rural history of the area, describing how it became part of the West Midlands industrial conurbation. Much of it is based on the author's original research. Among the many, beautifully produced illustrations are reconstructed plans and maps that have never before been published, as well as some splendid photographs from the author's own unique collection. No full history of Rowley Regis has been published to date; this splendid volume is a valuable and long-overdue contribution to the history of the whole conurbation.