ALMOST £10,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding has been granted to the Friends of Langley Library to start a fascinating new project mapping the historical landmarks of the area.

‘Within Walking Distance – Landmarks of Langley’ is a project that will explore different aspects of heritage within a square mile of the Barrs Street library.

This will include several historical sites, which can reveal the story of this living and working environment during the past 170 years.

Through workshops, presentations and displays, the project will invite local people for intergenerational encounters and conversations, to help define old and new landmarks and share these with new audiences.

The project, which received £9,800 from Heritage Lottery Funding, will also produce a free printed walking guide to the area, telling the story of these local landmarks, which will be distributed to households, business’s and community groups within walking distance of the library.

The culmination of the project will be an exhibition at Langley Library in July and – weather permitting – a guided tour of some of the landmarks mapped out during the project.

Vanessa Harbar, head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, said: “We are delighted to support this project, which, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, will mean that more people will be able to get involved with and learn about the exciting heritage right on their doorstep.”

The project’s first event – a Langley history talk with Dr Terry Daniels – takes place at the library this week, from 2pm on Thursday (April 5).

The renowned Black Country historian will present a talk and question and answer event for members of the public on the unique history of Langley and the area’s landmarks.

The library will also be hosting Phil Clayton from the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, who will hold a talk and question and answer event on the history of Titford Canal and the ‘Jim Crow’ Locks.

Phil will be at Langley Library from 2pm on Tuesday, May 1, and anyone wanting to attend either of the events, where light refreshments will be provided, should email friendsoflangleylibrary@gmail.com as places are limited and booking is essential.