More than 200 people sign up to back town's lock-maker memorial
Scores of people have asked for their names to be inscribed on a special monument which will put a town's lock-making history on the map.
The Willenhall heritage trust launched a sponsorship campaign last year to help cover the cost of building the monument, which will be at the corner of Walsall Street and Bilston Street.
The structure will recognise the people who worked for leading industry names including Union, Yale, Chubb and Squire.
More than 200 requests have been received from people to have the details of workers past and present engraved on the memorial wall's bricks.
Swedish security products company Assa Abloy, of School Street, now produces brands like Chubb, Yale and Union. Other famous town names included Josiah Parkes and Son and CE Marshall.
While Squires relocated from New Invention to the i54 industrial park near Featherstone, other brands, including ERA and Imperial Locks, are still being made in the town.
Councillor Diane Coughlan, of Willenhall South, said: "We've had 203 applications so far and we are working with Walsall Council. Assa Abloy has also been really positive about the project. We're due to hold a meeting with the bosses there very soon to discuss the concept further."
The project has received a £10,000 grant from the council's capital programme and more sponsorship cash is being sought to see it come to fruition.
The scheme is based on a similar project in Hednesford, Staffordshire, which recognises the region's mining heritage.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a brick should email membersofwht@btinternet.com or write to WHT c/o 69 Brereton Road, Willenhall, WV12 5LA, for more details and an application form.
