Led by Walsall Council, the initiative was delivered in partnership with Walsall College and the Walsall Archive for All (WAFA) project. As part of the project, students were able to host a private exhibition, with the work viewed by their families and invitees at Bloxwich Police Station on 4 June 2026.
The exhibition features over 30 pairings from Jack Haddock’s collection, capturing the evolution of daily life, buses, trains, canals and boats across the borough. The project is funded by a £249,020 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The WAFA project team are digitising 9,000 items from the collection to make them available to the public. This includes 2,200 photographs of canals, buildings, and boats, 5,928 slides, and 220 audio recordings.
To give Jack Haddock’s collection a new lease of life, Walsall College photography students visited the locations where Jack Haddock took his photos to capture how those places look today. The project helped students practice skills and gain experience while learning about the local history.
“ This fantastic initiative bridges the gap between Walsall’s rich past and its bright future. By bringing Jack Haddock’s incredible collection into the digital age, we aren’t just preserving history, we are making it accessible for generations to come. The creativity and dedication shown by the Walsall College students is truly inspiring, and this project is a wonderful reflection of what can be achieved when community heritage meets young talent. “
Councillor Matt Eason, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing
“ It was great putting this together. My skills have improved massively, and it was deeply inspiring to see through the photos how much things have changed, while fundamentally staying the same. “
Rosie Stretton, a participating Walsall College photography student
The private launch event was well-attended by dignitaries and community figures, including the High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Carmen Watson, West Midlands Police officers, college students and their families, the WAFA Project team, and individuals who knew and worked with Jack Haddock during his lifetime.
Proving its lasting impact, the Jack Haddock Collection has now been officially integrated into the Walsall College Photography course curriculum.