The Cannock Chase region today is one of contrasts – between the residential and industrial settlements in the area and the outstanding natural beauty of the Chase itself. Numerous descriptions of the region survive from the years covered by the photographs in this collection – all varying degrees of accuracy – and some are more charitable than others. Many refer to the contrasts which still exist today, and most make reference to the effects of the widespread mining, but few succeed in looking beneath the outward appearance to provide a picture of life in the diverse communities. A much better impression of everyday life around the Chase will be gained from the photographs themselves.The authors' second volume of views of the region has been compiled as a result of the tremendous interest in an earlier selection published in 1989. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the local people who enjoyed that book, many more unique and previously unseen photographs have light. They not only complement that selection but stand in their own right as a tribute to the people of the area and to their proud traditions.
