Modern Ladywood, with its high-and low-rise housing, dual carriageways, open green spaces and trees on nearly every street corner, bears no resemblance to the old Ladywood many generations experienced. Working-class, back-to-back courtyards with terraced houses fronting them were erected alongside factories from the 1840s. They were built on either side of a canal and railway that cut through the middle of Ladywood.

Following Ladywood's redevelopment in the 1960s, only the canal, railway and a handful of the original buildings remain. Over time the whole population of Ladywood was moved; some remained local, others moved out. Now, through the medium of photography, the differences and similarities between Ladywood of past and present can be explored in this fully updated edition of In and Around Ladywood Through Time.

The fascinating history of Winson Green to Brookfields is perfectly illustrated through archive and contemporary pictures. With carefully selected photographs, the author has clearly portrayed the effect that industrialisation has had on the area. Not only is this an informative book for those interested in the area, but it also provides a nostalgic look into the past for residents.

This is an exciting examination of Winson Green to Brookfields, the famous streets and faces, and what they meant to the people of the Midlands through the past century. Readers can see the historical context in which the photographs are set, and through the author’s factual captions the reader can achieve a view of the city’s intriguing history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of the city as Ted Rudge guides us through the local streets.