Walsall St Matthew in 1817

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

WALSALL ST MATTHEW.

The parish of Walsall is large, including the foreign of Bloxwich, Harden, Birch-hills, Walsall-wood, Windmill, Caldmore, and Lime-pit Bank.

The Church is situated on a bold and commanding eminence, the streets gradually descending from it on every side: it is a fine ancient gothic structure, with a lofty spire. This church, which is dedicated to St. Matthew, formerly belonged to the Abbey of Hales Owen, and was conferred on that religious establishment by William Rufus.

It is built in the form of a cross, but does not exhibit any traces of Saxon architecture. The interior is spacious, the roof lofty, and each side of the chancel has seven stalls, the seats of which are ornamented with a variety of grotesque figures carved in basso-relievo. Under this part of the church is an archway of massy gothic workmanship. It is a common passage through the eastern part of the church-yard. The window of St. Catherine's Chapel is adorned with the figure of that Saint painted on glass; and St. Clement's Chapel has several empty niches in its walls. The tower of the Church, which is built at the south-west angle, is of limestone; it is strong and plain, and surmounted by a handsome spire.

About the year 1775, when the tower was finished, eight good bells were put up; and two years prior to this, a fine-toned organ, built by Green, of London, was placed in the east gallery.

The church-yard being too small for the parish, in 1756, a spacious cemetery was enclosed by a wall on the south side of the town, and consecrated for the interment of the dead. At an agreeable distance beyond this burial-ground, the Vicarage, a neat rural mansion, rises amid embowering shades, and forms an interesting object.