Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies

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Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies

Wolverhampton Archives keeps documents, maps, books, photos, newspapers and more relating to the history of areas now within the city of Wolverhampton.

If you are interested in any aspect of Wolverhampton's history, Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies can help. We have documents, maps, books, photos, censuses, newspapers etc. relating to the history of all areas now within the present city of Wolverhampton including Bilston, Bushbury, Penn, Tettenhall and Wednesfield. Search our catalogues on the Black Country History website: blackcountryhi

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Take a look at some of our images on Flickr: Wolverhampton Arts + Heritage

Take a look at the Smith, Son & Wilkie cataloguing project blog: takingaccountproject.wordpress.com

02/09/2026

The first ever match on the Molineux grounds took place in 1889, when Wolverhampton Wanderers FC facing Aston Villa FC in a friendly. An article in the Express & Star the following day reveals that not everything was ready - the former cycle track was "not quite disappeared" and "some inconvenience was caused to spectators owing to the unfinished state of the ground". The pitch itself, however, "looked as level as a billiard table".

Wolves won the match 1-0, and afterwards the players and officials of both teams were invited to a celebratory dinner at the Molineux Hotel (now home to Wolverhampton Archives).

01/09/2026

Dave Bagnall

Dave Bagnall worked as a photographer for the Express & Star for more than 30 years and took hundreds of the photographs now preserved within the collection. He featured in a BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country Midlands Today interview marking the launch of The Express & Star digital photo archive website (https://www.esphotoarchive.org.uk/express-star-photo-archive-makes-the-headlines-on-tv-news/), where he recalled photographing Andy Gray in the 1980s, then Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's record signing.

This image shows Dave in front of the camera for a change, receiving the Midland Sports Photographer of the Year award from The Princess Royal at the UK Press Gazette Awards in 1988 (Ref: D-EXP/N/BAG/54).

29/08/2026

Today, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC face Stoke City Football Club. The two sides have met 151 times since 1888, with the biggest victory coming in 1890, with Wolves winning 8-0. Across more than a century of meetings, this fixture has produced a remarkably even balance of wins, losses and draws.

These images show Frank Munro being sent off by referee P. Hackney in 1974 (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/440), Ron Stockin scoring his second goal in a 3-0 win over Stoke in 1953 (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/335) and a poem written by the self-proclaimed "Portobello Poet", Thomas Bratt, about Wolves v Stoke in 1908 (ref: DW-37/1/5). Finally, there is an article from the Express & Star in October 1946 talking about the large number of coaches bringing fans from Wolverhampton to Stoke, with the car parks full long before kick-off time.

27/08/2026

Before he became a Wolverhampton Wanderers FC trainer in the 1920s, George Holley was one of England's most prolific forwards. A league champion with Sunderland AFC and an England football team international who scored 8 goals in 10 appearances, Holley brought a wealth of experience to Molineux, where he helped train Wolves players during the club's rebuilding years after the First World War. He later also served as a director for the club. This photograph is an extract from a team photograph for the 1925-26 season (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/284)

24/08/2026

John Henry "Jack" Addenbrooke (1865–1922)

A founding figure of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Jack Addenbrooke served as the club's first paid secretary-manager from 1885 to 1922. During his remarkable 37 years in charge, he guided Wolves to FA Cup victories in 1893 and 1908 and remains the longest-serving manager in the club's history.

19/08/2026

Mike Bailey (1942–2026)
A commanding midfielder and inspirational captain, Mike Bailey played for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC1966 - 1977 and captaining the team to League Cup glory in 1974. Renowned for his leadership and consistency, he made more than 300 appearances for the club.

17/08/2026

Behind every successful football club are the people whose work often goes unseen. Bill/Billy Pilbeam (sometimes spelled Philbeam) was grounds keeper at the Molineux stadium from 1972 onwards, becoming one of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's longest-serving employees. In honour of this, he was one of the people presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Molineux in 1994. This photograph from the Express & Star collection shows Billy weeding the pitch in readiness for the start of the Second Division season in 1976 (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/462).

15/08/2026

in 1959, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC won the FA Charity Shield at Molineux Stadium, beating Nottingham Forest with a score of 3-1. Wolves had been League champions in the previous season, with Forest having won the FA Cup. 1959 marked the first occasion when the Charity Shield match was held at the start of the new season.

The photograph shows Forest's Bob McKinlay heading away a shot from Jimmy Murray, with Bill Whare defending and Thomson in goal (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/225).

14/08/2026

Tonight Wolverhampton Wanderers FC will be facing Blackburn Rovers , with the two sides having met 107 times since 1888. Wolves' biggest win over Blackburn came in 1935, when they triumphed 8-1, while their heaviest defeat came two years earlier in 1933, when Blackburn secured a 7-1 victory.

And as we celebrate the past, all eyes now turn to Molineux for tonight’s next chapter.

These photographs show Wolves beating Blackburn 3-0 at Wembley in May 1960 to claim their fourth FA Cup title (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/381-390). A caption on the reverse of one photograph notes that Wolves’ players lined up to applaud their defeated opponents; something which nowadays is done as standard but was described at the time as a rare gesture, and a striking example of sportsmanship.

Also shown are details from a programme (ref: DX-306/4) from a First Division meeting at Molineux on 13 January 1962, when Wolves lost 2-0. This match marked Chris Crowe's final appearance for Blackburn before his move to Wolves.

The final images shows the Express & Star match report from Wolves v. Blackburn in October 1898, when Wolves won 2-1.

07/08/2026

Today marks the start of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's 150th year, and throughout this anniversary season we will be sharing highlights, memories and stories from the club's illustrious history.

Tonight, Wolves face Port Vale FC in the Carabao Cup. The two clubs have met 48 times in their history, with Wolves winning 60% of those encounters. Wolves' biggest victory came in Division Two in 1931 (7-1), while their heaviest defeat was a 3-0 loss in Division Two in 1925. Do you have any memories of previous encounters, and what are your score predictions for tonight?

The images show Port Vale v. Wolves in the first leg of the second round of the Milk Cup in 1984 (reference: D-EXP/S/WW/540); supporters on the pitch at Molineux following Wolves' 2-0 victory over Port Vale to secure the Second Division Championship in 1932 (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/288); and a matchday programme for Wolves v Port Vale in 2014 (ref: LS/1216).

Address

Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill
Wolverhampton
WV11SF

Website

http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/

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