Walsall brings together art collections, architectural history, market tradition and canal history as distinct themes. When planning a stay, it helps to decide what to focus on: should your visit centre on art, architecture or a long-standing city tradition? Walsall Arboretum adds a vast open space to these cultural themes.
Art collection and the story of a gift
The New Art Gallery Walsall’s permanent collection comprises more than 3,500 works, gathered since 1892. Its size and the year it began offer two different points of reference: the scale of the collection and the start of its history. Another specific, dated moment is the gift of the Garman Ryan Collection: Kathleen Garman donated it to Walsall in 1973. These two dates mark different perspectives on Walsall’s art history—the start of a permanent collecting programme and a single gift. For art lovers, this provides a timeline spanning the late 19th century to 1973.
Architectural history across several periods
The Church of St Matthew brings together several building phases. The church was rebuilt by Francis Goodwin in 1820–21; its chancel dates from the late 15th century. Beneath the west end of the chancel is a crypt dating from the late 13th century. It comprises two bays of a four-part vault and two lancet windows. To the east is another crypt from the 15th century, with a barrel vault. The two spaces differ in location, date and vault form. The building phases therefore span the late 13th century, the 15th century and the rebuilding of 1820–21.
The Guildhall offers a later architectural point of comparison. G. B. Nichols built the sandstone building in 1867 in the Classical style. Compared with the medieval building phases of St Matthew, it belongs to a much later period. Walsall’s architectural history thus makes it possible to distinguish medieval building elements from a 19th-century building.
Canal, market and arboretum
The Walsall Canal runs for seven miles from Ryders Green Junction to Walsall Town Wharf. Its length and endpoints offer a different way to consider the canal than the dates of the buildings: here, the focus is on a route between two named places. The canal’s history also includes the Walsall Junction Canal Southern Lock Walsall Locks on the Walsall Junction Canal, built in 1841. A named route and a dated lock structure therefore represent different aspects of canal history.
A market has been held on Walsall’s High Street since around 1220 and remains a popular attraction. Its history differs from that of the buildings: it is tied to an ongoing tradition rather than solely to a year of construction. For travellers interested in cultural history, the market adds another perspective on Walsall alongside its architectural history.
Walsall Arboretum covers 170 acres. It adds a vast open space to the individual buildings and cultural themes.
Practical information
Walsall Leather Museum is temporarily closed. Bear this in mind when planning a stay that includes museum visits, and check its status again before you travel.
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