Sandwell Hall was the name of one of the homes of the Earl of Dartmouth. The countess of Huntingdon introduced Dartmouth to Anti slavery activity amongst the aristocracy who were Methodists. The Countess of Huntingdon supported the publication of the most famous slave narrative, that of Olaudah Equaino, the slave who freed himself.

The Dartmouth's lived in Sandwell Valley at Sandwell Hall. The house has since been demolished due to mining subsidence. Today a part of the estate called Sandwell Valley Park Farm, is run by Sandwell MBC as a visitor attraction. The first Earl used it to provide food for his estate.

Many leading people of the day went to Sandwell Hall to enjoy the Earl's hospitality. John Wesley, the Countess of Huntingdon and the invited preachers of Edward Stillingfleet Vicar of All Saints, West Bromwich, are well known visitors. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism was viewed as a friend.

What must have outraged some aristocrats (people with land and titles) was the ease with which the Earl was prepared to attend Methodist meetings. In eighteenth century England, especially in rough industrial areas like Wednesbury and West Bromwich, it would have been unheard of for the local titled landowner to mix socially with the kind of manual workers who made up the local Methodist society - miners, nail makers, gun-makers, drovers, etc. However the Earl attended these meetings and insisted that whilst at them he should simply be addressed as "Bother Earl".

The Earl of Dartmouth rose to become an influential figure in 18th century British history. American readers may be aware that he was the British Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1772 and 1775, resigning when war with the colonies became inevitable following the Declaration of Independence. Dartmouth was a strong supporter of education and fully supported attempts to establish a school for Native American and Black students in New Hampshire. Dartmouth College was the last educational institution endowed during the Colonial period but it became an "Ivy League" private college for the new elite of the United States.

While responsible for the Colony of America, the Earl of Dartmouth supported the publication of Phyllis Wheatley's poetry in England, when influential Americans refused to publish the work of a former slave. Together with the Countess of Huntingdon he supported Phyllis Wheatley's tour of London. Dartmouth gave five guineas to Phyllis Wheatley to buy a copy of the complete works of Alexander Pope. In return for the support and friendship Wheatley composed 'To the Right Hournable William, Earl of Dartmouth', a poem calling for the freedom of all Americans.