Walsall

No individual entry found for Walsall in the Domesday survey. Edward Lees Glew's History of the borough and foreign of Walsall, in the county of Stafford (Walsall, 1856: 22) notes: "The fine old alabaster font, of octagonal shape, is richly sculptured, and exhibits eight shields." A communication by W.C. Owen, in the Jan. 5, 1884 issue of 'Notes and Queries' reads: "The lead lining of the font at Walsall parish church bears the following, in raised letters, &c.: -- S[raised dot]C C WARD / R.B 1712, and opposite to this the letters N S. Between the lines are placed, opposite each other, a large boss and a cherub's head. The font itself is an ancient, and a very fine one. It stands on a gothic pedestal, octagonal, like the font. On each panel is a small pedestal, evidently intended to hold a figure. The upper part exhibits on each face an angel bearing a shield charged with the arms of a noble family, each being different." The entry for this aprish in the Victoria County History (Stafford, vol. 17, 1976) notes: "There was a church at Walsall by 1200. It had dependent chapels at Wednesbury and Rushall for all or most of the Middle Ages, [...] and a third was founded at Bloxwich apparently in the early 15th century. [...] The church of ST. MATTHEW has been so called since at least the late 18th century, but from at least 1391 it had been known as All Saints' [...] The present appearance of the church is largely the product of 19th-century restoration and rebuilding. [...] The medieval church was largely rebuilt in the later 15th century. [...] The earliest surviving part is the late-13th-century inner crypt [...] By the early 19th century the church was much decayed [...] During the reconstruction of 1819-21 the pulpit was replaced by a three-decker, itself replaced by a stone pulpit at the restoration of 1879-80. [...] The octagonal alabaster font dates largely from the early 15th century; the rim and the lead lining of the bowl were added in 1712. Panels on the sides of the bowl enclose demi-angels bearing shields with coats of arms, including those of the Staffords and Beauchamps." Baptismal font of ca. 1400, octagonal, mounted, with a later lead lining and an alabaster rim; the lead lining is inscribed with [cf. supra], a Tudor rose and a mask with the date 1712; the bowl itself is made of limestone and bears the coats of arms of the Beauchamps and other families, as well as the Instruments of the Passion (cross, crown of thorns, sponge, lance, scourges...). The Lichfield Diocesan web site [www.lichfield.anglican.org/walsall] informs that "prior to 1879 the font was hidden behind the three decker pulpit." This latter source notes that the alabaster rim was added in the 19th century. The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: SP0163998293] notes: "Church, rebuilt 1820-21 by Francis Goodwin, with late C15 chancel restored 1877-80 by Ewan Christian and with earlier remains. [...] The octagonal alabaster font is early C15 and is decorated with shields of arms. The lead lining is dated "1712"."