Victorian Arcade, Walsall
History and description
The site, formerly the Shambles, a meat market dating from the medieval period, was redeveloped as a shopping arcade in 1895–7. The architect was Jonathon Ellis. Originally named Digbeth Arcade, it has been restored in recent years, and renamed Victorian Arcade. The T-shaped plan is unchanged from the original design.
There are entrances on Bradford Street on the north-west, Digbeth Street on the north-east and Lower Hall Lane on the south-east. The frontage on Bradford Street has a first-floor balcony of five bays: there are iron balustrades, with shops and office chambers behind. There are timber oriel windows on the floor above. There was originally a five-bay upper floor on the Digbeth Street frontage, replaced during the 20th century.
Inside, the arms of the arcade have a barrel-vaulted glass roof; they meet at an octagonal space under a glazed dome. Some of the shop fronts in the arcade are original.
See also
References
External links
Media related to Victorian Arcade, Walsall at Wikimedia Commons