Walsall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walsall
Clockwise from top: Walsall skyline, Art Gallery at Town Basin, Masjid-Al-Farouq Mosque in Caldmore, Town Centre, Arboretum, Council House & St Matthews Parish Church
Walsall
Population	70,778 (2021 Census BUA Profile)
OS grid reference	SP0198
• London	124 mi (200 km)
Civil parish	Unparished
Metropolitan borough	Walsall
Shire county	Staffordshire
Metropolitan county	West Midlands
Region	West Midlands
Post town	WALSALL
Postcode district	WS1–WS6, WS8, WS9
Dialling code	01922
Police
Fire
Ambulance
UK Parliament	Walsall and Bloxwich
List of places United Kingdom 52°35′N 1°59′W / 52.58°N 1.98°W / 52.58; -1.98

Walsall is a busy market town in the West Midlands, England. It's about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Birmingham. Walsall is the main town for the larger area called the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall.

Walsall was historically part of Staffordshire. In 1974, it became part of the new West Midlands County. In 2021, the town's built-up area had a population of 70,778 people.

History of Walsall

Early Days

Walsall in Medieval Times, 15th Century Watercolour by Henry Somerfield, The New Art Gallery Walsall permanent collection, 1976.278.P

The name Walsall might come from old words meaning "valley of the Welsh speakers." The town was first mentioned in a document from 1002. It grew into a small market town by the early 1200s. A weekly market started in 1220.

Queen Mary's Grammar School was founded in 1554. It still uses the Tudor Rose and arrows as its symbol. Queen Elizabeth I visited Walsall when it was called 'Walshale'.

The Industrial Revolution

View of Walsall in 1785, Engraving after Shaw, The New Art Gallery Walsall Permanent Collection 1976.102.P

The Industrial Revolution changed Walsall a lot. It grew from a small village to a large town. Walsall became famous for making saddles, chains, and buckles. Limestone quarrying also brought wealth to the town.

In 1824, Walsall got street lighting and a gasworks. The town also built almshouses for poor women. Walsall finally got a railway line in 1847.

First World War

Over 2,000 men from Walsall died in the First World War. A memorial, called a cenotaph, remembers them. It stands where a German airship (Zeppelin) dropped a bomb, killing three people.

20th Century Changes

Walsall's first cinema opened in 1908. After World War II, many old buildings were knocked down. New homes were built in areas like Coal Pool and Blakenall Heath. During the 1960s, many tall buildings were built in the town centre, but most have since been removed.

The Memorial Gardens opened in 1952 to honour those who died in the two world wars. The Old Square Shopping Centre opened in 1969.

In 1974, Walsall became part of the new West Midlands county. The Saddlers Centre, a shopping mall, opened in 1980. The Walsall Leather Museum opened in 1988, celebrating the town's famous leather industry.

Modern Redevelopment

Walsall has been updated a lot since the 1970s. Many old industrial sites are now being replaced with new homes and offices.

The New Art Gallery Walsall opened in 2000. New shops and flats have also been built. Walsall College moved to a new building in the town centre.

Geography of Walsall

Skip Lane looking east – parts of Walsall are semi-rural. Barr Beacon is on the horizon.

A famous local spot is Barr Beacon. It is said to be the highest point on its latitude until the Ural Mountains in Russia. Walsall's soil is mostly clay and limestone.

Areas of Walsall

Walsall has many different areas, including:

• Alumwell
• Beechdale
• Bescot
• Caldmore
• Palfrey
• Pleck
• Rushall
• Shelfield

People of Walsall

At the 2021 census, Walsall's population was 70,778. The town is home to many different ethnic groups and religions.

Walsall's local way of speaking is sometimes called "Yam-Yam." People from outside the West Midlands sometimes confuse it with the Brummie dialect.

Walsall's Economy

Walsall has a long history of different industries. It was known for coal mining and metal working. When the coal mines closed, Walsall became famous worldwide for its leather trade. The town made handbags for the Queen and saddles for the royal family! This is why the local football team, Walsall F.C., is nicknamed "the Saddlers".

Other industries in Walsall include making iron and brass, quarrying limestone, and producing small hardware, plastics, and electronics.

Walsall's location near the M6 motorway makes it a good place for businesses. Large companies like Poundland and Tesco's One Stop Stores have major operations here.

Education in Walsall

Walsall is home to part of the University of Wolverhampton. This campus focuses on Sports, Art, and Education. Walsall College offers further education courses.

There are many schools in Walsall, including junior schools, secondary schools, and grammar schools like Queen Mary's Grammar School. Most children move to secondary school at age 11.

Religion in Walsall

Walsall has many places of worship. St. Matthew's Church was rebuilt in 1821. St Martin's was built in 1960.

There are also several Islamic centres and mosques. These include the Aisha Mosque, Shahjalal Mosque, and Masjid Al-Farooq. The Jamia Masjid is in the Birchills area.

Getting Around Walsall

Buses

Walsall has two main bus stations: Bradford Place and St Paul's bus station. Buses connect Walsall to nearby cities like Birmingham and Wolverhampton. They also link to smaller towns and local housing areas.

Roads

Walsall is very well connected by roads. The M6 motorway runs through the area, linking Walsall to London and Glasgow. The A34 road also connects Walsall to Manchester.

Railway

Walsall railway station is in the town centre. Trains run regularly to Birmingham and Rugeley. There's also a smaller station at Bescot.

Trams

Walsall used to have a tram service until 1933. The West Midlands Metro tram system is expanding. There are plans to possibly extend the tram line to Walsall in the future.

Air Travel

Walsall Aerodrome operated from the 1930s to 1956. The closest airport for flying is Birmingham Airport, which is about 30 minutes away by car.

Culture and Fun in Walsall

Walsall Arboretum

Walsall Arboretum is a large park that opened in 1874. It was created to give people a healthy place to relax. The park has two boating lakes, tennis courts, and a children's play area.

For many years, the Arboretum hosted the Walsall Arboretum Illuminations. These were popular light shows that attracted many visitors. However, the Illuminations were stopped in 2010 and replaced with other events like concerts.

Art Gallery

Walsall's new art gallery

The New Art Gallery Walsall opened in 2000. It has many artworks, including pieces by famous artists like Van Gogh and Monet. The gallery also hosts temporary exhibitions.

Museums

Walsall has the Walsall Leather Museum. It shows off different leather goods and recreates workshops where leatherworkers used to make things.

Public Art

Statue of Sister Dora

You can see interesting statues and art around Walsall. There's a statue of Sister Dora, a famous nurse. There's also a concrete hippopotamus outside the library, designed by local artist John Wood.

Books and Writers

The famous writer Jerome K. Jerome was born in Walsall. Other writers, like John Petty, have set their books in Walsall.

Local Media

Walsall has local TV news from BBC Midlands Today and ITV News Central. There are also several local radio stations, including BBC Radio WM. Local newspapers include the Walsall Advertiser.

Sport

Walsall's football team is Walsall F.C., known as the Saddlers. They were formed in 1888 and play in Football League Two.

Walsall also has a cricket club, Walsall Cricket Club. The town's rugby union team is Walsall RUFC. There are also other local sports clubs for hockey and more. Walsall used to have a horse racing course.

Shopping

Walsall town centre is a popular place to shop. It has many well-known stores like Primark and New Look on Park Street. There are also shopping malls like the 'Bradford Mall' (formerly the 'Saddlers Centre') and 'The Old Square'.

The area around Walsall Art Gallery is being redeveloped. A new hotel and a cinema have opened there.

Recent Projects

Walsall has seen many new developments. These include upgrades to Walsall Manor Hospital and the new Walsall College building. There are also plans for new business areas with high-speed internet. Road improvements have also been completed around the town centre.

Famous People from Walsall

Twin Towns

Walsall is connected with these towns around the world:

• Bahla, Oman (since 1953)
• Mulhouse, France (since 1962)
• Amritsar, India
• Kobar, West Bank, Palestine

See also

In Spanish: Walsall para niños