Smethwick Foundry Industry

The dirt, grime and molten metal of the foundry has long reflected the strength of West Midlands industry; but for how much longer?

Smethwick industrialist Eddie Marsland walks through the site that once held the largest foundry in Europe. The Midland Motor Cylinder works is now reduced to an expanse of wasteland. Marsland blames cheap imports and a lack of government support. The workforce has been halved in ten years. Can this really be the final days for the once proud heavy industry heartland of the UK or can this ex-boxer stage a fight-back?