The team at the Black Country Living Museum are looking for peoples stories about Stanton's Music Shop prior to 1960.

Once occupying Dudley Town Centre in the 1950s, bosses have plans to recreate the once popular local haunt as part of the site's £21.7m 'Forging Ahead' project.

The shop was originally opened by James Stanton at 10 Castle Street in Dudley in 1895. By the 1950s, the shop was in the hands of his daughter-in-law Florence, her daughter Audrey Howarth, and a managing director, Frederick Nash. In the late 1950s, much of Castle Street was demolished for Dudley’s town centre redevelopment, including replacing the old, Georgian building with a brand new block. It is the older building that will be recreated in the new 1940s-60s town centre.

The shop sold a range of musical instruments, including their traditional pianos but also electric organs and electric guitars. They moved on from gramophones to sell radiograms, radios, televisions and record players, as well as records to play on them which could be tested at listening booths first. Simon Briercliffe, Historical Research Assistant said:

“Stanton’s Record Shop will allow us to talk about the music and culture of the Black Country in the 1950s, including the rise of rock’n’roll and changing fashions.

"We’ll be using relevant memories and objects to bring Stanton’s story to life so please do get in touch if you or anyone you know remembers this once iconic high street shop.”

Anyone who remembers Stanton’s during this period is urged to get in touch by phone on 0121 557 9643 or by email.

For more information visit bclm.com/stantons.