Where is Wolverhampton Art Gallery?

Wolverhampton Art Gallery at Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DU

 

In brief

Art Gallery built from 1883-85 by J. A. Chatwin of Birmingham. Grade II* listed building. It opened in 1884. There is a modern extension on Wulfruna Street to the back. Also includes the former Municipal School of Art, built in the 1870s.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Lichfield Street (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Wolverhampton Art Gallery - history

The art gallery was designed by Birmingham architect Julius Chatwin (1829-1907) and built by local contractor Philip Horsman (1825-1890).

Built of Bath stone with Oolitic Limestone from Bath in Somerset from 1883 to 1885 (while it opened to the public in 1884), it is a Grade II* listed building.

The gallery faces St Peters Gardens, and there is path called St Peters Walk that takes you from Lichfield Street to Wulfruna Street.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Lichfield Street (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Former Municipal School of Art and Crafts

Built as the Municipal School of Art during the 1870s on Wulfruna Street (corner with St Peters Walk), it is now part of Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

A Grade II listed building, built of brick with ashlar dressings.

A blue plaque for Sir Charles Wheeler (1892-1974), who was a sculptor, became a Freeman of Wolverhampton in 1958, studied here.

It had been built around 1887 and was used as offices for the Wolverhampton Board of Guardians, but became an Annexe to the Art Gallery by 1908 or 1909. Sir Charles Wheeler was a student here from 1907 to 1912.

The School of Art and Crafts became Wolverhampton College of Art in May 1950, it later moved to a new building in June 1969 at Ring Road St Peters, when they merged with Wolverhampton College of Technology to form Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now part of the University of Wolverhampton).

Former Municipal School of Art, now part of Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Wulfruna Street (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Art Gallery - modern extension

From 2006 to 2007 the original art gallery was refurbished by Purcell, who partly modernised and extended the building to create additional exhibition spaces.

The building also has a café inside.

It can be accessed from Wulfruna Street.

Niall Phillips Architects designed it, and it was built from 2004 to 2007 with unglazed terracotta tiles.

Modern extension of Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Wulfruna Street (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Contact details

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Lichfield Street

Wolverhampton

WV1 1DU

01902 552055