author
Frederick William Hackwood
b. 1851
A prolific English writer who turned local history, folklore, and old customs into lively reading, he wrote more than 30 nonfiction books and became closely associated with Wednesbury and the Black Country.
1 Audiobook
The Annals of Willenhall
by Frederick William Hackwood
About the author
Born on 18 April 1851 in Wednesbury, Frederick William Hackwood was an English teacher, journalist, antiquarian, and historian. He trained as a teacher, later worked in journalism, and built a reputation as a careful recorder of local life and tradition.
Hackwood is best remembered for his nonfiction writing on Staffordshire, the Black Country, and English customs. He produced more than 30 books, covering subjects such as local history, folklore, old sports, and county institutions, and he also wrote for the Wednesbury Herald for many years.
His work had a strong civic side as well: he served Wednesbury as a councillor and justice of the peace, and his writing helped preserve the character and memory of the area he knew best. He died on 4 December 1926, but his books remain a useful window into regional history and everyday traditions.