Walsall

A market town until the 18th century, Walsall developed into a major industrial centre during the Industrial Revolution. The diversity of goods manufactured gave it the name “The town of 100 trades”. Much of the post-War development in the 1960s is now thought to have been ill-advised, however some of this has now been addressed and the town includes a number of interesting museums and a spectacular new art gallery. In 1886, a statue was erected in the centre of Walsall to commemorate the life of Sister Dora Pattinson, a much-loved local nurse. It is believed to be the first statue in Britain to a woman who was not a member of the royal family.