Walsall Town Hall

Walsall Town Hall is a grade II listed building[1] located in Walsall, England. The town hall, which opened in 1902, is used for a variety of functions including wedding receptions and concerts.[2]

Walsall Town Hall
The main entrance in 2008
General information
TypeTown Hall
Architectural styleBaroque
Classification
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated31 July 1986
Reference no.1076367
AddressLichfield Street
Town or cityWalsall
CountryWalsall, England
Coordinates52.58574°N 1.98033°W / 52.58574; -1.98033
Opened1902 (1902)
OwnerWalsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Design and construction
ArchitectJames Glen Sivewright Gibson
DesignationsGrade II listed

History

The town hall's Baroque style design is by the architect James Glen Sivewright Gibson.[1] It has a facade of sandstone ashlar[1] and adjoins Walsall Council House.[1] The town hall holds an organ which was installed to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.[3]

Bands that performed at the Walsall Town Hall in the 1960s and 1970s include Jameson Raid, Slade, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.[4]

In the theatre are a matched pair of pictures by Frank O. Salisbury. They were commissioned by Joseph Leckie "to commemorate the never to be forgotten valour of the South Staffordshire Regiments in the Great War 1914 - 1918" and completed in 1920.[5] One shows "the First South Staffordshires attacking the Hohenzollern Redoubt", the other "the 5th South Staffords storming the St. Quentin Canal at Bellingtise Sept 29th 1918".[5]

Also inside the building are a memorial to organist and composer Charles Swinnerton Heap, sculpted by Albert Toft, and a 2009 memorial plaque to Walsall's three recipients of the Victoria Cross, John Henry Carless, James Thompson and Charles George Bonner.[6]

References
  1. Historic England. "Town Hall, Walsall (1076367)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  2. "Town Halls". Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  3. "An historic guide through Walsall Town Hall". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  4. "Raising the musical roof in Walsall". Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  5. Mabbett, Andy (2002). "War memorials". Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  6. Lloyd, Matt (30 December 2009). "Black Country Victoria Cross winners are honoured". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 31 December 2009.


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