I'm a Brummie, we used to go to Walsall market 40plus years ago and it was heaving, no two stalls were the same, so much variety, but now like most town centres it's degenerated into a dump like most small towns. Outfits like Amazon and out of town retail parks have ruined things. The only thing going for it is the Black Country Arms real ale pub at the top end of the old market
Car restrictions, reduced on-street parking, extortionate parking charges, unnecessary bus lanes, traffic cameras and overzealous traffic wardens... ALL the responsibility of the local council. They simply didn't get that parking was free in Merry Hill and shopping moved online with eBay, Amazon and all big retailers. Why would anyone want the hassle of wasting time going into Walsall Town centre??
It’s an example of the low intelligence of councillor’s and administrators. It’s greed for more money and all they do is drive customers and businesses away! They allow contractors doing work for them to be wasteful in time and money, because it’s rate payers money not their own. Utterly poor supervision by those who have paper qualifications but no practical knowledge.
I remember as a kid we would park on the site Asda is at the top of town. Shop at Tesco then get the meat from the old square butchers. Then get our fruit and veg from The market. We have been conditioned to one stop shop nowadays.
@@zeniqfpsWolverhampton centre is bleak in bits but, having visited both this weekend I promise you it's nothing like as bleak as poor old Walsall. Not even close.
Many years ago I took my late mom, Walsall born and bred,like myself, and she took one look around and said take me home, this isn't Walsall anymore. Walsall died years ago and won't ever be the same again.
Walsall and Birmingham have such a proud history. Governments have ruined our once great country. RIP soldiers who lived in these areas and died to keep them the way they were. Governments have allowed them to decline by design. What is the endgame??????
Hi Phil I have been to Walsall so many times and it is so rough it is just like West Bromwich I am from West bromwich and don't feel safe there anymore keep up the good work from Marie 😊
I'm Walsall born and bred, it used to be a nice town centre before, not anymore unfortunately. Nearly all of the decent shops have closed down, getting replaced with cheap junk shops, so sad to see how it is now compared to 10 years ago.
It was once an amazing place to shop. Like in other places most shops have closed down. We used to have places like C&A, Marks & Spencer, River Island, Debenhams, Woolworths, Top Shop, BHS, Body Shop and much more. All gone now!
It's a crap hole now, just like West Brom and all our other local towns. It's all intentional if you know what the plan is. You should have had a look at the Town Hall and you possibly may have seen the pair Peregrine Falcons along with the fine architecture. Nice one Phil.
Thank you for showing this video , having left Walsall to move abroad almost twenty years ago,this certainly is an eye opener ,last visit to walsall five years i remember all those shops in arcades its so sad to see centre where Debenhams was quite.shockimh ,
I was born and brought up in Walsall but left almost 30 years ago and am now in Cornwall, by the sea. I haven’t been “home” for almost 7 years and it wasn’t in great shape then. Have to say I am really saddened by what I have just watched. Such a shame. Thank you for making the video though, it did bring back some memories.
Sad to see.....I use to go to the market with my mom and dad in the 60s...bought my Beatles and Kinks 45rpms from there....and in the very early 70s used the 'Dirty Duck'..remember the Go Go dancers down in the cellar......good old days...
that poundstretcher in the Saddlers Centre used to be an Argos to, also where you said poundland used to be, i remember that fondly as a John Menzies in the late 80s, thanks for taking us on the walk!
Sad to hear sad comments about the town . I grew up in Willenhall but left aged ten. I came back to the area in 1980 aged 21 and worked for nearly 4 yrs as a Press Photographer on the Walsall Observer . Editorial and front office in Bridge Street. I was based at West Midlands Press in Laemore near Walsall. Happy times 😊
Its good to hear from someone who has a positive slant but sadly retail does appear to be dying in the Towns premier shopping malls, many thanks for the comment
Great video Phil. Walsall used to be a wonderful market town, I still remember what used to be in all the vacant shops. It’s really sad to see it now. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks for the video Phil. I visited Walsall myself with my son a few months ago as we did a walk around the Walsall Arboretum. Now i was born in Walsall and worked in the Woolworths you mentioned thats now Poundland but i did used to go there as the cinema beforehand as a boy. We walked through the Old Square and i was devastated that every shop was closed or empty. I grew up in this town and wanted to show my son around. The shopping experience is awful the market now a shadow of its former self. I was a little upset of the decline in just a short space of time. The face statue near the bus station when built was a working water fountain. I dont believe its been working fir a while as wasn't when i left the area about 15-20 years ago.
Its complicated. People have cars and so the locals of walsall could easily head into birmingham city centre or a bugger and better funded shopping centre. Also people buy online. But i definitely agree that these old buildings need to be managed. As an indian thats born and brought up in birmingham i often look at the old listed buildings and features on soho road and wish they were better maintained. But I also know the restrictions the government put on these buildings and features makes it so expensive to preserve and maintain that they probably cant afford to care. The way things are governed definitely needs to change
Hope you enjoyed this short look around Walsall Town Centre. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content. As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
Hi Phil I remember the old Railway station had a wooden booking Hall and just left of the Station on the high street I remember a Pub I think it was called the Durham ox all the best Paul
Shame how it has gone almost everywhere. I remember just 20 years ago Walsall had some good shops and was worth a look around. I can't believe the number of fast food places everywhere in the place of useful shops. Passing through Weoley Castle in Birmingham where I came from originally the shopping area lost the toy & bicycle shop and the radio & television shop I remember and now has 11 fast food takeaways!
You can pretty much walk around now and say "someone got stabbed to death here, some one got stabbed to death here, someone got stabbed to death here" welcome to Walsall.
Hi Phil. I found this very interesting, but as I'm a Brummie born and bred, I had lived in Walsall for the last twenty years but have now left there. When you were in the Saddlers, you talked about the £poundstretcher store and its previous usage. I'll just point out that before it was used as a Covid vaccination point, it was an Argos store. Argos left this site to move up to the Crown Wharf Retail Park, still in Walsall town center, but now on a retail park, so not quite the town center shopping that the Saddlers was.
Real shame whats happened to walsall, it was a great place to shop in the 80s, if you wanted a new pair of shoes walsall was the place it had loads of shoe shops, think shoezone is the only one now. Talking of shoe shops, downstairs of the sadler center, Bacons was inbetween timpsons and the jewellers but sadly long gone. Their was a top bloke who had a stall selling Greeting cards on bottom floor and he sadly packed it up last week. It used to have one of the Best markets around back in the day but sadly you only get an handfull of stalls now.
Are you kidding?? Clearly you’ve never heard of the crown wharf? Massive load of clothes and shoe shops and even on that highstreet he showed there’s about 5 shoe shops 😂 negative nellys
And we dont want trainers maybe school shoes bacons was the place to go just like tammy girl for clothes now closed years ago so spuds you like was nice place now all those shops closed because of high rents @@Android1X
I am so shocked with the decline of Walsall town centre. There’s virtually nothing of note there bar a handful of chain stores, and we thought West Brom was bad! There seems to be a progressive trend of small towns going downhill right under our noses. On a positive, I do like the green plant pot structures 😊
Yes I believe you're right, it was in the Old Square. This was the next big thing in the 80s - just scoop out the amount of food you wanted from all these different tubs, whatever happened to all these stores?, there were loads of them at one time, I never see them now. Many thanks for that
Very sad state Walsall is in, having said that it has been in decline for many years, and its satellite towns. I guess internet shopping had the final say. I do not know how a town comes back from this. Looking at all the once lovely buildings I think the modernisations are all so ugly and charmless, lacking in character. No amount of regeneration would do the trick if local people cannot generate enough interest by giving their patronage to businesses. The Arr Gallery btw is beautiful inside and has some lovely exhibits and really fine views. I haven’t been in for a decade and a half though I worked there for a decade before that, when I was last there there were some thriving eateries and the supermarkets were doing fine. The rot was already there though especially the Saddlers. It’s a shame because Walsall has other things going for it like the lovely Arboretum. It could be quite beautiful, instead of being like this, but it has been systematically starved for a quarter of a century.
There used to be a loverly cafe restaurant in that old arcade, God their food was the best, looks like that has gone now, the old people used to go there for a home cooked meal, they also had a wimpy, I think it was in the 70s, and they also had a bernie inn, so sad that everything has gone to rubbish 😢
I grew up in Walsall in the 1970’s/80’s. It used to be a great town and very safe. I moved to Scotland 20-odd years ago and I wouldn’t want to walk around Walsall town centre now
that road going up to the church ,used to be heaving on a Saturday with market stalls and plenty of shops in the 1950s ,shops are empty because of high rents ,councils are not interested
I've got so many fond memories of Walsall. In the 80's I was at (what was then) polytechnic there, and was resident DJ at some clubs and bars in 90's & early 2000's. It was such a great, vibrant, lively little town: it really saddens me to see it now.
Hi Phil the building next to smiths with the Black & White fasard was the Priory Pub and opposite the Railway station on the corner was a pub called the Grand and just up the road from Sister Dora's I remember a Pub called the Dirty Duck and I remember the Trolley Buses .and at the top of the high street I remember the A B C Cinema. I was surprised at how many shop's are shut all the best Paul
I’m from Bury where ten of thousands of shoppers every day at vibrant town every day, only handful empty retails out of hundred of shops, can’t understand why Walsall are worst places for empty shops.
I'm 41 and lived my whole life in Walsall and used to love going down town as a kid it was always busy not 1 shop shut down but nowadays most the shops are shut down it's a real shame. The Internet shopping killed the markets and shops off
Use to love going to Walsall on Saturday afternoon shopping with my best friend. There was a good market and town back in the 1970s. The old ABC Cinema which stood at the top of Park Street was very popular back in the day. My dad took me to see the Exorcist there when I was 13. I remember people fainting and being carried out on stretchers by the St John’s Ambulance. Dad needed a pint after the film so we stopped off at the Globe Inn, Jamesbridge on the way home. 🤣🤣 Good times.
I intentionally avoid Walsall , it’s depressing & I feel unsafe, however my daughter asked me to collect something for her. I parked , the meter no longer takes coins , pay by card 🤬, one machine was not working found another paid by card , when I returned I had a parking ticket , I hadn’t noticed my pay & display ticket had not gone through & void now I face £25 parking ticket after going to that sh1t ole ! Talk about insult to injury!!
Every town in the land is a disaster after lockdown. Walsall used to have a wealth of wonderful shops, great buildings and architecture. Taylor’s Music Shop has a great facade. Everything has been left to deteriorate. It is alarming as you say. Interesting to see how things are these days. Miss George Street antique shops. My great great grandfather worked in a tallow candle making shop on the right hand side going up towards Asda. Demolishing the old railway station and foyer was sacrilege. There were amazing theatres and cinemas. The town could have attracted many visitors if the council had retained its historical buildings. Don’t draw me on the Museum, the eyesore that is. Do you remember The George Hotel and coach house at the rear? Demolished for a supermarket! Is this progress? Tku for the walkabout.
This is extremely sad to see, my grandparents lived in Walsall, we lived just outside. So Walsall was where we shopped. Most of the buildings are very nice above the tacky old shop frontages. Sad the decline of high streets at the moment. Great tour though.🐞
Walsall was a great town.Well portrayaled by yourself.Terrible how it has gone downhill.Before all the moving of Tesco.The market was completely destroyed by what happened.The old square was great to walk around.Finnish now.The restaurants was called the strand.Doing that market kept you fit going up that hill to St Marks.This can not be reversed.Not the of the reasons.Concil corruption or incompetence or just the way life is changing.Phil your doing a great job.Keep it up.Willenhall and Bloxwich are not doing too good.The satue of princess Diana as been put somewhere else.Sadley centre 13 million.worth about 3 million.The picture house the Savoy and ABC I loved the Saturday morning rocket man happy days.Thanks again.
Town centre's across the UK died years ago. Walsall used to be a great little town way back, remember when you could hardly move on a Saturday when the Market was prosperous. Sad to see it now empty and soulless
I remember that restaurant going over the market. The market used to stretch from the top of the hill by the church and finish at the bottom of the hill. I think it even crossed over to the oposite side of the road to, but I am probably mistaken. I was only a young kid back then in the late 70's early 80's. Haven't been shopping in walsall for well over 10years, west brom over 4 years, and wednesbury for over 4 years.To be honest from what I hear from relatives is they don't feel safe in those towns either when shopping. Such a shame, used to be such a great day out. Always come back with something. Pencil case for 50p, pencils 5p each, pens 5p each. Sad to see the decline.
The restaurant over the Market was called the Overstrand. Tesco was next to the Halifax where the green Co-Op store is now.The Pub in Park Street next to W H Smith was the Ye Olde Priory Hotel.The Poundstrecher shop was Argos.Marks and Spencer was at the site where the SNUGGERY is now underneath the Park Place Shopping Arcade and a tin of Heinz toast toppers was 7 New Pence those were the days.The escalators was in the open not covered with glass.Park Street was open to full traffic until the seventies when they modernize it and the first semi automated pedestrian crossing was installed at the bottom of Park Street /Bridge street outside the old Dunn & Co.
Greatly miss Fellows Park attended home and away in 1950s they were less than successful didn’t care they were and still are my club.same team most weeks Chilvers Haddington Perkins Dorman McPherson Rawlings Moore myerscough Richards Hodgekisson Taylor. Town centre shopping sadly will never return.So feel privileged to have experienced it.
Yep my town is not in a good state. The old square had plans to be turned into flats but not sure what the plan is for that. Even some of a new units near the cinema are empty. We do have lack of restaurants in the town centre which I think would bring people more into town. Park Place Shopping Centre has been closed for a while now Wilkinsons moved out & the hole place has been shut ever since there are some small outlet stalls & an antiques shop on the bottom floor. Plus the town has many other problems with antisocial behaviour, homeless & lack of jobs. Although the train stops is getting an upgrade it’s more to like Birmingham new street top side gets upgraded but the platforms do not.
The pub next to WHSmiths was called the priory, there’s a little indication, 2 monks on the wall above, and the once music shop on bridge st next to it above the group slade used to play gigs/practice there
yes, you are quite correct someone pointed this out to me yesterday that it was once an argos for quite some time, but i'd completely forgotten about it, many thanks for the comment
It use to be a good town but it's the same all over now doesn't matter what town you go to now. So very sad all to do with lack of investment and over priced rates
Shoutout to Lockside Cafe - Matt the owner of Lockside steak house in stourbridge recently opened that cafe and it seems to be doing well as he's a firm believer in quality food freshly made. All the best to him!
The restaurant across the market was the Overstrand, Walsall is now a 💩 hole! Smiths music shop, above all those buildings in Lichfield street and Darwell street is beautiful architecture. Henry’s was next to Lloyd’s bank
you made lots of valid points, but i didn't agree with the one about the art gallery. if you go visit there's so much beautiful art to see, lots of historical pieces too. they have such a lovely collection, and i was surprised to see it was still going when i visited the other week. i really encourage you to have a look for yourself
All these shopping centres go down there was a big shopping centre in newtown precinct Sainsbury, Foster brothers 3 to 4 butchers and fruit shops and 50 to 100 shops up and down and in the circle so did places like Nechells and other local areas like Scott Arms, Kinstanding Circle high priced rents force them out and get replaced with betting shops and charity shops Then now and again Govrrment say we need to support local shops B S😢
It's Spud-U-Like. I used to eat my lunch there every day for a few years. "Jacket potato with beans and cheese on top, please, love. Thank you very much."
the statue thing at 11:51 remind me of my childhood 🥹 I always used to climb that statue with my big sister when I was way younger. WHEN DID POUNDLAND AT 19:58 CLOSE? I LOVED THAT PLACE SO MUCH :(((
Since 2008 financial crisis it’s never recovered just like many other towns Retail parks, malls, supermarkets, online shopping etc has killed any chances of recovery Town centres are not depended on as mush as they were back then. Not sure what other purpose town centres will serve in the future
No, no, noooo.. Walsall is slowly, slowly improving. Just watch the space in 20 years. The council has BIG plans and a big budget to go along with it..
As for the comments here about walsall being finished or its died, its just change and yes in my memory walsall was an excellent place from the mid 90s until 2010 but shopping habits have massively changed with the internet shopping boom. The only people willing to pay rent are those offering services and the public are mainly buying online from companies who dont pay tax properly so the local retailer cant compete whilst paying rents
I have been a resident in Walsall for the last 34 years, and a bit like you went into the town week ago, i parked in the old carpark in bradford place on the site of where gala bingo is was! notice that the site as lost a few its stores, so not really sure how it generates any profit, parking free 90 minutes. I did walk into the Square and like you, and for a late week shopping spree, the place was empty, no variaty of shopping and i think the poundstrecher as also been an Argos aswell, not much better in the town, no BHS, no markets, no costomers, it used be standing room only, what a disaster, you might as well flatten it. i used to go a record shop down by queen victoria statue, now gone afew years now, but it everywhere now, shop from home.
The inside shopping centres are effectively dead. The Saddlers Centre is the Premier mall and if the units cant be let then what hope is there. These places often rely on one Big name shop when it goes the whole lot collapses ie Marks and spencer and Debenhams. Appreciate your comment
I'm Walsall born and bred , and still live just a mile outside in Shelfield. Your right , it is run down and nothing like it was even 10 years ago. Lots of empty shops and places that could do with being demolished. However , you didn't even bother to show the Wharf area , despite standing less than 100 yards from it. Theres a lovely new cinema and bowling alley and several nice places to eat inc Wetherspoons. Over the road are where all the superstore shops are based , and its plenty busy enough. While walking round one centre you said thats where Tesco used to be , but never mentioned that they had built a superstore 50 yards from St Pauls bus station. Perhaps you could show the good bits of the town centre as well as the more run down bits. Or better still , go and have another look.
You make valid points and I agree there are positive aspects of most towns if one knows where to look. Im familiar with the main town shopping area but was unaware of the wharf retail park and yes a follow up film will be made soon hopefully showing the areas that are on the up. Many thanks for your comment
I remember the old train station, and the toilets by the statue of Sister Dora where you had to go down some steps to get to them. The odeon cinema where the old Tesco used to be that got burnt down. The market was one of the best from the bottom right to the top by St Matthews. So sad to see the decline, it’s sad I have no desire to go there now though even though it’s still my local town. Thanks for doing the video.
Every town in the land is a disaster after lockdown. Walsall used to have a wealth of wonderful shops, great buildings and architecture. Taylor’s Music Shop has a great facade. Everything has been left to deteriorate. It is alarming as you say. Interesting to see how things are these days. Miss George Street antique shops. My great great grandfather worked in a tallow candle making shop on the right hand side going up towards Asda. Demolishing the old railway station and foyer was sacrilege. There were amazing theatres and cinemas. The town could have attracted many visitors if the council had retained its historical buildings. Don’t draw me on the Museum, the eyesore that is. Do you remember The George Hotel and coach house at the rear? Demolished for a supermarket! Is this progress? Any idea what happened to the lovely automated clock in the Saddlers Centre Phil?
@@marybarratt2649 great memories and excellent points you make sadly I’m not aware of what happened to the clock maybe someone else will chip in with the answer
Born Walsall educated Edward Shelley married in Streetly moved to Cornwall 1983. Remember full employment busy shops Conlons Music shop Park Street Noddy tuning guitars a Bob a time.7 cinemas Savoy Gaumont Palace Imperial classic Empire Forum Caldmore.Busy Market Digbeth.lucky to have experienced that it’s gone forever.
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Docile, dying towns. Nothing special! Look at Milton Keynes, dead duck!
Walsall born and raised here. As a kid in the 80s the outdoor market was really something. It's just so lifeless now and devoid of character
I'm a Brummie, we used to go to Walsall market 40plus years ago and it was heaving, no two stalls were the same, so much variety, but now like most town centres it's degenerated into a dump like most small towns. Outfits like Amazon and out of town retail parks have ruined things. The only thing going for it is the Black Country Arms real ale pub at the top end of the old market
Car restrictions, reduced on-street parking, extortionate parking charges, unnecessary bus lanes, traffic cameras and overzealous traffic wardens... ALL the responsibility of the local council. They simply didn't get that parking was free in Merry Hill and shopping moved online with eBay, Amazon and all big retailers.
Why would anyone want the hassle of wasting time going into Walsall Town centre??
Good comment, many thanks
It’s an example of the low intelligence of councillor’s and administrators. It’s greed for more money and all they do is drive customers and businesses away! They allow contractors doing work for them to be wasteful in time and money, because it’s rate payers money not their own. Utterly poor supervision by those who have paper qualifications but no practical knowledge.
Exactly the same story in Wolverhampton. Shameful.
I remember as a kid we would park on the site Asda is at the top of town. Shop at Tesco then get the meat from the old square butchers. Then get our fruit and veg from The market. We have been conditioned to one stop shop nowadays.
@@zeniqfpsWolverhampton centre is bleak in bits but, having visited both this weekend I promise you it's nothing like as bleak as poor old Walsall. Not even close.
Many years ago I took my late mom, Walsall born and bred,like myself, and she took one look around and said take me home, this isn't Walsall anymore. Walsall died years ago and won't ever be the same again.
Walsall and Birmingham have such a proud history. Governments have ruined our once great country. RIP soldiers who lived in these areas and died to keep them the way they were. Governments have allowed them to decline by design. What is the endgame??????
Hi Phil I have been to Walsall so many times and it is so rough it is just like West Bromwich I am from West bromwich and don't feel safe there anymore keep up the good work from Marie 😊
Appreciate your support, many thanks
Nail bars and barbers, so long as the government get there share there not bothered, money laundering 🤔☝
I personally can't stand seeing so many of them
@@awalkwithphilLot of Turkish barbers about now, never seems to be busy how do they survive ??. Keep up the good work.
@@AdrianWootton-sn2ts Thanks Adrian for your support
Bang on
Yep... money laundering
I'm Walsall born and bred, it used to be a nice town centre before, not anymore unfortunately. Nearly all of the decent shops have closed down, getting replaced with cheap junk shops, so sad to see how it is now compared to 10 years ago.
I doubt we'll see those days again, unless rents are reduced substantially that may, help but I doubt that will happen. Many thanks
@@awalkwithphil I agree completely!
I'm from the South, now living in Wolverhampton, and the same thing happened in Croydon.
Nice to see the barriers of peace popping up everywhere. Thanks for the video didn't know all of the history.
Those barriers are hideous
It was once an amazing place to shop. Like in other places most shops have closed down. We used to have places like C&A, Marks & Spencer, River Island, Debenhams, Woolworths, Top Shop, BHS, Body Shop and much more. All gone now!
River island hasnt
It's a crap hole now, just like West Brom and all our other local towns. It's all intentional if you know what the plan is. You should have had a look at the Town Hall and you possibly may have seen the pair Peregrine Falcons along with the fine architecture. Nice one Phil.
I suspect it could all be managed decline, many thanks for your support
@rondonnis6588 I would keep out The Sandwell if I was you. It's distorting your vision.
@rondonnis6588 Have a lovely afternoon and keep on enjoying West Bromwich has to offer you.
West Bromwich Walsall has everything you need what’s the big deal
@@Tony-p6t Go enjoy them
The old pub in park street was called the priory and it had a cider house in the back
Many thanks for that FB
Thank you for showing this video , having left Walsall to move abroad almost twenty years ago,this certainly is an eye opener ,last visit to walsall five years i remember all those shops in arcades its so sad to see centre where Debenhams was quite.shockimh ,
It certainly is a shocking sight. Many thanks for your support
I was born and brought up in Walsall but left almost 30 years ago and am now in Cornwall, by the sea. I haven’t been “home” for almost 7 years and it wasn’t in great shape then. Have to say I am really saddened by what I have just watched. Such a shame. Thank you for making the video though, it did bring back some memories.
Thanks Kay I will be heading back up there very soon.
Sad to see.....I use to go to the market with my mom and dad in the 60s...bought my Beatles and Kinks 45rpms from there....and in the very early 70s used the 'Dirty Duck'..remember the Go Go dancers down in the cellar......good old days...
Those days were the best days, many thanks
that poundstretcher in the Saddlers Centre used to be an Argos to, also where you said poundland used to be, i remember that fondly as a John Menzies in the late 80s, thanks for taking us on the walk!
I remember John Menzies very well West Brom folk had two of these stores back in the day one in each shopping centre, many thanks for the comment
Sad to hear sad comments about the town . I grew up in Willenhall but left aged ten. I came back to the area in 1980 aged 21 and worked for nearly 4 yrs as a Press Photographer on the Walsall Observer . Editorial and front office in Bridge Street. I was based at West Midlands Press in Laemore near Walsall. Happy times 😊
Its good to hear from someone who has a positive slant but sadly retail does appear to be dying in the Towns premier shopping malls, many thanks for the comment
The carvings on the music shop blew my mind..Absolutely beautiful
Brilliant arn't they, a purpose built music store it was a fabulous place, sad that it's no more
@@awalkwithphil The music shop was called Taylors phil
@@raecattell7680 Thanks Rae
Thanks for showing us Walsall, really saddened to see what has happened. Tamworth and Burton on Trent have suffered a similar decline.
@@ARLUK63 many thanks
Old Square Shopping Centre on about knocking it down and building apartments😅
Thanks Tony, looks like they've resigned themselves to the fact that retail aint coming back.
Great video Phil. Walsall used to be a wonderful market town, I still remember what used to be in all the vacant shops. It’s really sad to see it now. Thanks for the tour.
Many thanks for your support
Thanks for the video Phil. I visited Walsall myself with my son a few months ago as we did a walk around the Walsall Arboretum.
Now i was born in Walsall and worked in the Woolworths you mentioned thats now Poundland but i did used to go there as the cinema beforehand as a boy.
We walked through the Old Square and i was devastated that every shop was closed or empty.
I grew up in this town and wanted to show my son around. The shopping experience is awful the market now a shadow of its former self. I was a little upset of the decline in just a short space of time.
The face statue near the bus station when built was a working water fountain. I dont believe its been working fir a while as wasn't when i left the area about 15-20 years ago.
You remember the place in its heyday its such a shock now to see it how it has declined. Many thanks
Its complicated. People have cars and so the locals of walsall could easily head into birmingham city centre or a bugger and better funded shopping centre. Also people buy online. But i definitely agree that these old buildings need to be managed. As an indian thats born and brought up in birmingham i often look at the old listed buildings and features on soho road and wish they were better maintained. But I also know the restrictions the government put on these buildings and features makes it so expensive to preserve and maintain that they probably cant afford to care. The way things are governed definitely needs to change
@@0nkar excellent points many thanks
Hope you enjoyed this short look around Walsall Town Centre. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content.
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Hi Phil I remember the old Railway station had a wooden booking Hall and just left of the Station on the high street I remember a Pub I think it was called the Durham ox all the best Paul
@@paulhill196 Terrible in hindsight that the station building was demolished and for what?? many thanks for the comment
I Phil the building next to Smiths with the Black & White facard was the Priory Pub all the best Paul
@@awalkwithphil
@@paulhill196 Thanks for the name of the pub much appreciated
Shame how it has gone almost everywhere. I remember just 20 years ago Walsall had some good shops and was worth a look around. I can't believe the number of fast food places everywhere in the place of useful shops. Passing through Weoley Castle in Birmingham where I came from originally the shopping area lost the toy & bicycle shop and the radio & television shop I remember and now has 11 fast food takeaways!
It's the previous council leaders. That never invested in the town. That left the town a mess. Taxpayers money gone to waste.
You can pretty much walk around now and say "someone got stabbed to death here, some one got stabbed to death here, someone got stabbed to death here" welcome to Walsall.
Simply not true stabbings can happen anywhere
@@aarondawson9990 that's exactly the point. Can and do. The first building he goes to, someone got killed there last year
Hi Phil. I found this very interesting, but as I'm a Brummie born and bred, I had lived in Walsall for the last twenty years but have now left there.
When you were in the Saddlers, you talked about the £poundstretcher store and its previous usage. I'll just point out that before it was used as a Covid vaccination point, it was an Argos store.
Argos left this site to move up to the Crown Wharf Retail Park, still in Walsall town center, but now on a retail park, so not quite the town center shopping that the Saddlers was.
Yes Dave Id forgotten that it was an Argos I will take a look around the Crown Wharf very soon, many thanks
Walsall has been a ghost town for ages, what a dump
Real shame whats happened to walsall, it was a great place to shop in the 80s, if you wanted a new pair of shoes walsall was the place it had loads of shoe shops, think shoezone is the only one now.
Talking of shoe shops, downstairs of the sadler center, Bacons was inbetween timpsons and the jewellers but sadly long gone.
Their was a top bloke who had a stall selling Greeting cards on bottom floor and he sadly packed it up last week.
It used to have one of the Best markets around back in the day but sadly you only get an handfull of stalls now.
Great memories sadly I can't see these says ever coming back
But you literally have sports direct, JD and footasylum to buy shoes and those are big international companies.
Are you kidding?? Clearly you’ve never heard of the crown wharf? Massive load of clothes and shoe shops and even on that highstreet he showed there’s about 5 shoe shops 😂 negative nellys
And we dont want trainers maybe school shoes bacons was the place to go just like tammy girl for clothes now closed years ago so spuds you like was nice place now all those shops closed because of high rents @@Android1X
I am so shocked with the decline of Walsall town centre. There’s virtually nothing of note there bar a handful of chain stores, and we thought West Brom was bad! There seems to be a progressive trend of small towns going downhill right under our noses. On a positive, I do like the green plant pot structures 😊
I Walked straight passed them and never noticed, many thanks
Am I right in thinking Scoops used to be in the old square ? ... I recall bins of random items from cornflakes to grass seed ?
Yes I believe you're right, it was in the Old Square. This was the next big thing in the 80s - just scoop out the amount of food you wanted from all these different tubs, whatever happened to all these stores?, there were loads of them at one time, I never see them now. Many thanks for that
Very sad state Walsall is in, having said that it has been in decline for many years, and its satellite towns. I guess internet shopping had the final say. I do not know how a town comes back from this. Looking at all the once lovely buildings I think the modernisations are all so ugly and charmless, lacking in character. No amount of regeneration would do the trick if local people cannot generate enough interest by giving their patronage to businesses. The Arr Gallery btw is beautiful inside and has some lovely exhibits and really fine views. I haven’t been in for a decade and a half though I worked there for a decade before that, when I was last there there were some thriving eateries and the supermarkets were doing fine. The rot was already there though especially the Saddlers. It’s a shame because Walsall has other things going for it like the lovely Arboretum. It could be quite beautiful, instead of being like this, but it has been systematically starved for a quarter of a century.
There used to be a loverly cafe restaurant in that old arcade, God their food was the best, looks like that has gone now, the old people used to go there for a home cooked meal, they also had a wimpy, I think it was in the 70s, and they also had a bernie inn, so sad that everything has gone to rubbish 😢
So true, many thanks
I grew up in Walsall in the 1970’s/80’s. It used to be a great town and very safe. I moved to Scotland 20-odd years ago and I wouldn’t want to walk around Walsall town centre now
that road going up to the church ,used to be heaving on a Saturday with market stalls and plenty of shops in the 1950s ,shops are empty because of high rents ,councils are not interested
I believe the restaurant that went over the market was called the overstrand at one time Phil
I think you're right, it does ring a bell, many thanks
I've got so many fond memories of Walsall. In the 80's I was at (what was then) polytechnic there, and was resident DJ at some clubs and bars in 90's & early 2000's. It was such a great, vibrant, lively little town: it really saddens me to see it now.
Hi Phil the building next to smiths with the Black & White fasard was the Priory Pub and opposite the Railway station on the corner was a pub called the Grand and just up the road from Sister Dora's I remember a Pub called the Dirty Duck and I remember the Trolley Buses .and at the top of the high street I remember the A B C Cinema. I was surprised at how many shop's are shut all the best Paul
I’m from Bury where ten of thousands of shoppers every day at vibrant town every day, only handful empty retails out of hundred of shops, can’t understand why Walsall are worst places for empty shops.
Be careful Phil,Walsall is rated as the most dangerous unsafe Town Centre in the UK.
@PandaHernandez23According to Wolverhampton 😂😂
Marks and Spencer's in the Centre on about turn it into a college
A college!!! How shocking. The Saddler Centre now appears doomed
I'm 41 and lived my whole life in Walsall and used to love going down town as a kid it was always busy not 1 shop shut down but nowadays most the shops are shut down it's a real shame. The Internet shopping killed the markets and shops off
@@yamyam3407 you may very well be right
Use to love going to Walsall on Saturday afternoon shopping with my best friend. There was a good market and town back in the 1970s. The old ABC Cinema which stood at the top of Park Street was very popular back in the day. My dad took me to see the Exorcist there when I was 13. I remember people fainting and being carried out on stretchers by the St John’s Ambulance. Dad needed a pint after the film so we stopped off at the Globe Inn, Jamesbridge on the way home. 🤣🤣 Good times.
That film stayed with me for a week when I saw, Thanks Lesley
I intentionally avoid Walsall , it’s depressing & I feel unsafe, however my daughter asked me to collect something for her. I parked , the meter no longer takes coins , pay by card 🤬, one machine was not working found another paid by card , when I returned I had a parking ticket , I hadn’t noticed my pay & display ticket had not gone through & void now I face £25 parking ticket after going to that sh1t ole !
Talk about insult to injury!!
The rates and the internet killed Walsall like other towns
Every town in the land is a disaster after lockdown. Walsall used to have a wealth of wonderful shops, great buildings and architecture. Taylor’s Music Shop has a great facade. Everything has been left to deteriorate. It is alarming as you say. Interesting to see how things are these days. Miss George Street antique shops. My great great grandfather worked in a tallow candle making shop on the right hand side going up towards Asda. Demolishing the old railway station and foyer was sacrilege. There were amazing theatres and cinemas. The town could have attracted many visitors if the council had retained its historical buildings. Don’t draw me on the Museum, the eyesore that is. Do you remember The George Hotel and coach house at the rear? Demolished for a supermarket! Is this progress? Tku for the walkabout.
This is extremely sad to see, my grandparents lived in Walsall, we lived just outside. So Walsall was where we shopped. Most of the buildings are very nice above the tacky old shop frontages. Sad the decline of high streets at the moment. Great tour though.🐞
Many thanks for the comment
Argos and then t j hughes was the shops where pound stretchers is , haven’t been there since Debenhams went , very run down and depressing
I remember vaguely TJHughes but more so Argos.
Walsall was a great town.Well portrayaled by yourself.Terrible how it has gone downhill.Before all the moving of Tesco.The market was completely destroyed by what happened.The old square was great to walk around.Finnish now.The restaurants was called the strand.Doing that market kept you fit going up that hill to St Marks.This can not be reversed.Not the of the reasons.Concil corruption or incompetence or just the way life is changing.Phil your doing a great job.Keep it up.Willenhall and Bloxwich are not doing too good.The satue of princess Diana as been put somewhere else.Sadley centre 13 million.worth about 3 million.The picture house the Savoy and ABC I loved the Saturday morning rocket man happy days.Thanks again.
Appreciate your support and totally agree with you about the state of its shopping centre, its just memories left now. Many thanks for the comment
Town centre's across the UK died years ago. Walsall used to be a great little town way back, remember when you could hardly move on a Saturday when the Market was prosperous. Sad to see it now empty and soulless
What does he expect the town centres to look like when everyone shops online it leads to one thing small shops go bust
I remember that restaurant going over the market. The market used to stretch from the top of the hill by the church and finish at the bottom of the hill. I think it even crossed over to the oposite side of the road to, but I am probably mistaken. I was only a young kid back then in the late 70's early 80's. Haven't been shopping in walsall for well over 10years, west brom over 4 years, and wednesbury for over 4 years.To be honest from what I hear from relatives is they don't feel safe in those towns either when shopping. Such a shame, used to be such a great day out. Always come back with something. Pencil case for 50p, pencils 5p each, pens 5p each. Sad to see the decline.
Certainly great memories appreciate the comment
The Rise and Fall...Thankyou
Walsall is a town with a fantastic history but it is heartbreaking to see it now. Sadly much of England can tell a similar story.
Walsall is disgusting place .I dont even bother going there anymore .But it has not always been like that .
The restaurant over the Market was called the Overstrand. Tesco was next to the Halifax where the green Co-Op store is now.The Pub in Park Street next to W H Smith was the Ye Olde Priory Hotel.The Poundstrecher shop was Argos.Marks and Spencer was at the site where the SNUGGERY is now underneath the Park Place Shopping Arcade and a tin of Heinz toast toppers was 7 New Pence those were the days.The escalators was in the open not covered with glass.Park Street was open to full traffic until the seventies when they modernize it and the first semi automated pedestrian crossing was installed at the bottom of Park Street /Bridge street outside the old Dunn & Co.
Brilliant info many thanks for that
Don't recognise most of the place now except the WH Smiths which must i think must have been in the same place for over 45 years
Same here, it looks worse now than it was that's for sure
Greatly miss Fellows Park attended home and away in 1950s they were less than successful didn’t care they were and still are my club.same team most weeks Chilvers Haddington Perkins Dorman McPherson Rawlings Moore myerscough Richards Hodgekisson Taylor. Town centre shopping sadly will never return.So feel privileged to have experienced it.
Great atmosphere at fellows park loads of history but sold out to a supermarket, great comment
Yep my town is not in a good state. The old square had plans to be turned into flats but not sure what the plan is for that. Even some of a new units near the cinema are empty. We do have lack of restaurants in the town centre which I think would bring people more into town.
Park Place Shopping Centre has been closed for a while now Wilkinsons moved out & the hole place has been shut ever since there are some small outlet stalls & an antiques shop on the bottom floor.
Plus the town has many other problems with antisocial behaviour, homeless & lack of jobs.
Although the train stops is getting an upgrade it’s more to like Birmingham new street top side gets upgraded but the platforms do not.
Excellent points appreciate the comment
Poundstretchers was Argos 20+ years ago
20:09 was a shoe shop around a similar time
Many thanks Mike
The pub next to WHSmiths was called the priory, there’s a little indication, 2 monks on the wall above, and the once music shop on bridge st next to it above the group slade used to play gigs/practice there
Brilliant information much appreciated
Poundstretcher in the Saddlers centre used to be Argos for years. I can only ever remeber it as an Argos but since then has been a few other things.
yes, you are quite correct someone pointed this out to me yesterday that it was once an argos for quite some time, but i'd completely forgotten about it, many thanks for the comment
Beauty shop and Nail shops and hairdressers/ Barbers are mostly now fronts in the UK as LEGITIMATE business. need I say anymore!
This is so sad. I didn't even know there was a Debenhams in Walsall.
It use to be a good town but it's the same all over now doesn't matter what town you go to now. So very sad all to do with lack of investment and over priced rates
so true, many thanks
Shoutout to Lockside Cafe - Matt the owner of Lockside steak house in stourbridge recently opened that cafe and it seems to be doing well as he's a firm believer in quality food freshly made. All the best to him!
Must pay a visit when Im up there this weekend
The restaurant across the market was the Overstrand, Walsall is now a 💩 hole!
Smiths music shop, above all those buildings in Lichfield street and Darwell street is beautiful architecture. Henry’s was next to Lloyd’s bank
you made lots of valid points, but i didn't agree with the one about the art gallery. if you go visit there's so much beautiful art to see, lots of historical pieces too. they have such a lovely collection, and i was surprised to see it was still going when i visited the other week. i really encourage you to have a look for yourself
The Overstrand restaurant had a Saturday job there 😊
All these shopping centres go down there was a big shopping centre in newtown precinct Sainsbury, Foster brothers 3 to 4 butchers and fruit shops and 50 to 100 shops up and down and in the circle so did places like Nechells and other local areas like Scott Arms, Kinstanding Circle high priced rents force them out and get replaced with betting shops and charity shops Then now and again Govrrment say we need to support local shops B S😢
It's Spud-U-Like. I used to eat my lunch there every day for a few years. "Jacket potato with beans and cheese on top, please, love. Thank you very much."
Good old days, those shops no longer exist - now they sell em on the back of some oven on wheels on the cold High Street
the statue thing at 11:51 remind me of my childhood 🥹 I always used to climb that statue with my big sister when I was way younger.
WHEN DID POUNDLAND AT 19:58 CLOSE? I LOVED THAT PLACE SO MUCH :(((
Since 2008 financial crisis it’s never recovered just like many other towns
Retail parks, malls, supermarkets, online shopping etc has killed any chances of recovery
Town centres are not depended on as mush as they were back then.
Not sure what other purpose town centres will serve in the future
Very good points , many thanks
Thank you for showing us Wal-vegas
Talking of being dead have they killed the hippo off? Top vid, Nice one!
Many thanks
I remember when Tesco was Tesco in the old square, but yeah there’s nothing much left in the old square
No, no, noooo.. Walsall is slowly, slowly improving. Just watch the space in 20 years. The council has BIG plans and a big budget to go along with it..
Many thanks, I sincerely hope so
As for the comments here about walsall being finished or its died, its just change and yes in my memory walsall was an excellent place from the mid 90s until 2010 but shopping habits have massively changed with the internet shopping boom. The only people willing to pay rent are those offering services and the public are mainly buying online from companies who dont pay tax properly so the local retailer cant compete whilst paying rents
Had our wedding reception at the Overstrand.
Sad that it was demolished it was so iconic. Many thanks
I have been a resident in Walsall for the last 34 years, and a bit like you went into the town week ago, i parked in the old carpark in bradford place on the site of where gala bingo is was! notice that the site as lost a few its stores, so not really sure how it generates any profit, parking free 90 minutes.
I did walk into the Square and like you, and for a late week shopping spree, the place was empty, no variaty of shopping and i think the poundstrecher as also been an Argos aswell, not much better in the town, no BHS, no markets, no costomers, it used be standing room only, what a disaster, you might as well flatten it.
i used to go a record shop down by queen victoria statue, now gone afew years now, but it everywhere now, shop from home.
The inside shopping centres are effectively dead. The Saddlers Centre is the Premier mall and if the units cant be let then what hope is there. These places often rely on one Big name shop when it goes the whole lot collapses ie Marks and spencer and Debenhams. Appreciate your comment
Just came home from there an hour ago,shame to say ive no reason to go back soon,used to live there,loved it then.
All very sad to think what it used to be. Many thanks
Tesco was where the Co-op is and Halifax was already there when Tesco was open
Hello good morning Walsall town center is like Northfield Birmingham shopping center. From Hardeep nandhra. 😅
Everywhere is the same.
Spent time in Walsall met some lovely people 😊found your post really interesting
Worsull was a bostin place yeers agoo, I'm a penshunna now and om just waitin to snuff it to get out of the dog owle.
😃
Used to be full of shops and and people in the 2000's and even 2010's but after the pandemic, it really died.
Good point, many thanks
I'm Walsall born and bred , and still live just a mile outside in Shelfield. Your right , it is run down and nothing like it was even 10 years ago. Lots of empty shops and places that could do with being demolished. However , you didn't even bother to show the Wharf area , despite standing less than 100 yards from it. Theres a lovely new cinema and bowling alley and several nice places to eat inc Wetherspoons. Over the road are where all the superstore shops are based , and its plenty busy enough. While walking round one centre you said thats where Tesco used to be , but never mentioned that they had built a superstore 50 yards from St Pauls bus station. Perhaps you could show the good bits of the town centre as well as the more run down bits. Or better still , go and have another look.
You make valid points and I agree there are positive aspects of most towns if one knows where to look. Im familiar with the main town shopping area but was unaware of the wharf retail park and yes a follow up film will be made soon hopefully showing the areas that are on the up. Many thanks for your comment
I remember the old train station, and the toilets by the statue of Sister Dora where you had to go down some steps to get to them. The odeon cinema where the old Tesco used to be that got burnt down. The market was one of the best from the bottom right to the top by St Matthews. So sad to see the decline, it’s sad I have no desire to go there now though even though it’s still my local town. Thanks for doing the video.
Many thanks for your support. The old station was far better than what there is now in its place.
The music shop called taylor's, the pub in park street was the priory by wh Smith 😢
Thanks Mark much appreciated
The shop in Park Street used to be called the private pub
Thanks for the info
Every town in the land is a disaster after lockdown. Walsall used to have a wealth of wonderful shops, great buildings and architecture. Taylor’s Music Shop has a great facade. Everything has been left to deteriorate. It is alarming as you say. Interesting to see how things are these days. Miss George Street antique shops. My great great grandfather worked in a tallow candle making shop on the right hand side going up towards Asda. Demolishing the old railway station and foyer was sacrilege. There were amazing theatres and cinemas. The town could have attracted many visitors if the council had retained its historical buildings. Don’t draw me on the Museum, the eyesore that is. Do you remember The George Hotel and coach house at the rear? Demolished for a supermarket! Is this progress? Any idea what happened to the lovely automated clock in the Saddlers Centre Phil?
@@marybarratt2649 great memories and excellent points you make sadly I’m not aware of what happened to the clock maybe someone else will chip in with the answer
Hi mate was wondering what mic you are using as I'm about to purchase one for my gopro. Cheers
I use a DJI mic that uses Bluetooth to transmit to the camera so no need for wires
Born Walsall educated Edward Shelley married in Streetly moved to Cornwall 1983. Remember full employment busy shops Conlons Music shop Park Street Noddy tuning guitars a Bob a time.7 cinemas Savoy Gaumont Palace Imperial classic Empire Forum Caldmore.Busy Market Digbeth.lucky to have experienced that it’s gone forever.
Great memories GS as that is all we have now. Sadly I cannot see a route back to a great and bustling retail trade that Walsall once had, many thanks
Production Slum Rise....Shopping Facade....False Nails and Fall Surprise
I’ve not been for years, last time I was in Walsall I got attacked by a group of Asian lads, never set foot there ever since.
The oversrand was over the market
The black and white pub you referred to was called 'The Priory'.