G.B. ENGLAND. Sandwell, The West Midlands. Known as 'The Black Country'. Peter Marlow photographed the many closed down foundaries and engineering industries and titled the project 'Closed Down Britain'. During this dramatic era of the severe decline of traditional manufacturing industry in the area Marlow took workers back to their old places of work inside now derelict plants.

Round Oak Steelworks.
Left: Vic Jones (52) worked as a leading hand 22 years at Round Oak. Right: Denis Wood (34) was leading shunter at Round Oak for 16 years. Both are now on a re-training catering course, sponsored by British steel, at the local Haleowen College. Seen here in number 2 melting shop, behind them men are cutting up the trains Wood used to drive for scrap.

1983