Mysterious quest to find knights' origins in the Midlands

With unknown designers and vague theories about their origins, the knights have become a unique and mysterious export from the region.

The small cast iron hearth furniture decorative pieces started popping up in the 1930s. The fireside companion set comprised a medieval knight with three hooks on its back to hold a shovel, brush and tongs, as well as a hinged helmet giving access to a poker.

The companion sets did not come with markers on them, leaving informed guess work to figure out which firms cast the iron.

However, similarities between Bilston firm Canon's gas fires and fireside companion sets emerged around the time locals started calling them Bilston Knights. The firms behind the creations are believed to have included Bilston Foundries and Cannon in Bilston, Chatwin's in Tipton, and Fryer's, Shaw's and Harper's in Willenhall.

Paul Quigley, Curator of History and Local Studies at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, said: "Firstly, we're very pleased to be cooperating with the Black Country Memories Club on the first of hopefully several exhibitions to come.

"There's been a bit of a mystery surrounding these very popular sets. People who have seen the exhibition have recalled their grandmother having similar sets.

"It seems the knights were very popular at the time when coal fires were still used.

"Now there is a nostalgic element that attracts people to these. They're also symbolic of trades with the iron production and enameling associated with the area.

"You must also wonder how they came up with some of the designs with all manner of interesting crocodiles and beetles.

"They're attractive pieces, which almost look like something out of a sci-fi movie when photographed, although I'm sure they weren't thinking about that at the time."

Once each item had been designed a wooden version was made by a pattern maker. A molten cast iron was then poured into the mould and after cooling it was broken with the casting removed.

From there the knights were sent to the enamelling shop and sprayed with an enamel slurry. It is unknown who specifically designed them but it is likely they were designed by the drawing office of the company that made them.

Most of the designs were of knights, although other designs included the crinoline lady, Mr Punch, Mr Pickwick and various animals. The knights highlight Bilston's rich history in producing cast iron and enamelling, with Bilston enamels becoming synonymous with decorative enamels.

The Quest for the Bilston Knights , which will remain open at Bilston Craft Club until January, is an attempt to piece some of the scant knowledge on offer into an exhibition for the first time.