1. From Grand Home to Community Landmark
Imagine Wolverhampton in the early 1700s—on its outskirts, a stately new red-brick house rose just above town. Built around 1720 by Benjamin Molineux, a prosperous ironmaster and banker, this elegant mansion soon became known as Molineux House. Over the years, the building was expanded and embellished—wings were added, Georgian-style interiors graced its halls, and a belfry turret crowned its roof.
The Molineux family called it home for over a century. Its grounds were used for public entertainment by the 1850s, famously becoming a pleasure park with boating lakes, cycling tracks, and even hosting bicycle races. By the late 1800s, the sprawling estate was leased to Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, giving rise to the famous Molineux Stadium just behind the house.
2. The Presence of George Africanus
Amid these walls lived a figure whose story resonates even today: George John Scipio Africanus. Baptised at St Peter’s Church in Wolverhampton in 1766, he was described simply as a boy “belonging to Benjamin Molineux of Molineux House”. Raised and educated by the Molineux family, Africanus went on to gain his freedom, apprenticeship, and eventually set out to Nottingham, where he became a respected entrepreneur.
3. Decline, Restoration, and New Purpose
After the Molineux family sold the house around 1860, it morphed through several incarnations—from pleasure park pavilion to hotel by the 1870s . It closed in 1979 and stood neglected, caught between decay and memory, before a devastating fire in 2003 prompted urgent action.
In a remarkable act of conservation, the building was restored with support from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and others. Preserved Georgian interiors like the Rococo Room and wood-paneled Oak Room now shine again, and in 2009 the building began its new life as the Wolverhampton City Archives. Modern preservation measures—controlled temperature, humidity, and fire protection—ensure the city’s documents are safeguarded within these historic walls.
4. A Living Memory: George Africanus’ Story Told Here
Today, this building not only safeguards local history—it also remembers the individuals who lived within its walls. The Archives hosts the "300 Years of the Molineux Building" exhibition, featuring a striking article about George Africanus. Here, visitors can learn about how he grew from an enslaved boy in this house to a free, successful businessman—a powerful reminder of personal resilience and heritage.
Educational programmes—including a play performed in the Rococo Room—bring Africanus’s story to new generations. Children step into Wolverhampton’s past as they watch actors in period costumes portray George’s journey from servant to entrepreneur
Wolverhampton National Archives
