Lichfield Street, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 1SX
This striking grade II listed building was purpose built as Walsall’s first permanent subscribers’ library. Built in 1830–1 in the Greek Doric style, it was divided into news and reading rooms. By 1847, however, the building had fallen into disrepair, with the library struggling to make a profit. Not long after that, it was altered internally to provide an imposing county court building.
Photographs and text about St. Matthew’s Hall.
The text reads: This striking grade II listed building was purpose built as Walsall’s first permanent library for subscribers. Built in the Greek Doric style, in 1830-1, it was dived into news and reading rooms. By 1847 however, the building had fallen into a state of disrepair and the library evidently struggled to make a profit. Not long after that, it was altered internally to provide a suitably imposing County Court building. The books went on to find a new home in Walsall’s new Free Library.
The building survives today, minus the attractive iron forecourt railings and has been in use since 1998 as a pub, originally known as The Old Court House and later as Martha’s Vineyard. The building has now been renamed using its original name.
The designer’s notes of St. Matthew’s Hall.
The text reads: This striking grade II listed building was purpose built as Walsall’s first permanent library for subscribers. Built in the Greek Doric style, in 1830-1, it was called St Matthew’s Hall, and was dived into news and reading rooms.
Although the building went on to accommodate a number of differing functions, it has retained much of its original grandeur, particularly externally.
A copy of an old library poster.
External photograph of the building – main entrance.
If you have information on the history of this pub, then we’d like you to share it with us. Please e-mail all information to: pubhistories@jdwetherspoon.co.uk