Walsall factfile

How to get to Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands, north west of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton.

It's in an area known as the Black Country—a reference to the ironworking foundries and forges that could once be found here, and the fossil fuels that lie just below the surface of much of the area.

You can get to Walsall from junctions 7, 9 and 10 of the M6. Trains also run frequently from Walsall station to Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Stafford.

How Walsall got its name
The name Walsall derives from the Celtic words "Walh halh", or "valley of the Celtic speakers". The earliest record of the town is found in a document dated 1002 however, in which it was referred to as "Walesho".

Natural beauty spots around Walsall
There are over 200 parks in the borough of Walsall, all of which are free to visit. The most famous park in the area is Walsall Arboretum—the remnants of medieval royal hunting ground Cannock Forest.

Nature reserve Shire Oak Park is home to a rich variety of wildlife, and boasts 65 acres of beautiful meadow, woodland and ponds.

Shopping in Walsall
Park Street and Bridge Street are Walsall's main shopping streets. Bridge Street also has two indoor shopping centres, The Old Square and Bradford Mall.

Walsall's historic market has a reputation as one of the finest in the country for choice, quality and value, and draws visitors from all over Britain.

Crown Retail Park, Park Place and the Broadwick Retail Park are home to a variety of larger shops.

Sports and leisure in Walsall
Walsall Football Club, nicknamed The Saddlers, was originally formed in 1888 with the merger of Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts. They currently play their home games at the Bescot Stadium.

Walsall RUFC is the town's rugby team. Walsall Cricket Club and Walsall Hockey Club also compete in local Midlands leagues.

Famous people from Walsall
Perhaps the most famous Walsall resident was the author Jerome K Jerome, best known for his comic novel Three Men in a Boat. He was born in the town in 1859, and there's now a museum at his birthplace.

The town is also the birthplace of Noddy Holder, singer of rock band Slade.