Today we proudly celebrate Black Country Day, honouring the region’s rich industrial heritage, innovation, and community spirit.
At Jenks & Cattell Engineering, we’ve called Wolverhampton home since 1886. Growing from traditional pressworkers and garden tool manufacturers, into one of the UK’s most capable metal pressing and fabrication specialists. Our people, machines and materials have been part of the Black Country’s legacy for generations, and we remain proud to support British manufacturing and continue the engineering heritage this region is known for.
The Black Country is recognised as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution – home to coal mining, iron foundries, metal pressing, glassmaking, and engineering excellence. It’s here on 14th July, that the world’s first successful steam engine was built by Thomas Newcomen in 1712, marking a pivotal moment in global industrial history.
The region’s skilled workers – from blacksmiths and toolmakers to welders and machinists – helped shape modern industry. That same spirit lives on today at Jenks & Cattell Engineering through presswork, laser cutting, welding, machining and precision fabrication for industries across automotive, power generation, and off-highway sectors.
As a company built on 135+ years of engineering legacy, Black Country Day is not just a celebration of where we are – it’s a reminder of where we’ve come from, and the legacy we continue to build.
What does the Black Country flag symbolise?
- Red for the blazing heat of furnaces
- Black for the coal that powered progress
- A white chain representing strength in manufacturing
- And the iconic glass cone, a symbol of the region’s renowned glass industry
What are the areas of the Black Country?
- Dudley
- Sandwell
- Walsall
- Wolverhampton
