Walsall Leather Museum
Latest Reviews
Been several times and could not miss the last day open to the public ( for now). Our battle to save Walsall Leather Museum will continue. Its a wonderful, interesting experience outlining the breadth and depth of the Leather industry in Walsall in an atmospheric setting. You can feel the ghosts of workers and their families and actually see and hold the tools they held as well as making your own mementos. Thank you for all you do. Knowledgeable, friendly, informative. A wonderful few hours for all the family.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A really nice place to visit and full of interesting things about the leather industry around Walsall
Admission is Free and I just can't believe that the Walsall Council wants to close it down!!!!!!😯😲
Admission is Free and I just can't believe that the Walsall Council wants to close it down!!!!!!😯😲
Source: google.com
What an absolutely wonderful museum. The staff are amazing and it's really good for kids too. Even the building itself is one of the exhibits, being an old leather factory. I can't believe that Walsall council want to close it down so I recommend that you visit soon before they do.
Source: google.com
Great experience with our Grandson, shame it's closing down for good.
Source: google.com
Fabulous museum, free of charge entry, very friendly and helpful volunteers and staff and very affordable cafe. We felt like we had had a leather making masterclass after speaking to Awais! Such a shame this is closing in a couple of months.
Source: google.com
Initially thought it was a small exhibition, a volunteer gave us information in the first section . Very interesting and knowledgeable tour , he then allowed us at our own pace to carry on ..
We followed through to the next room then upstairs which had varies rooms telling and showing the leather craft and industry in the area .
Another guide joined us and showed techniques of the hand crafts and tools used working the learher into various items . Again he was knowledgeable and informative .
Before leaving we had a drink and a sweet treat in the little cafe , which were of a good quality and cheap by museum prices .
We learnt that the local council were closing down the museum in April with no clear decision where and if would it would reopen .
The University was to take over the building for other uses !
Another museum bites the dust in the area !!
Hope the workers and volunteers are considered in all of the closures ..
We followed through to the next room then upstairs which had varies rooms telling and showing the leather craft and industry in the area .
Another guide joined us and showed techniques of the hand crafts and tools used working the learher into various items . Again he was knowledgeable and informative .
Before leaving we had a drink and a sweet treat in the little cafe , which were of a good quality and cheap by museum prices .
We learnt that the local council were closing down the museum in April with no clear decision where and if would it would reopen .
The University was to take over the building for other uses !
Another museum bites the dust in the area !!
Hope the workers and volunteers are considered in all of the closures ..
Source: google.com
This place is so underrated. People expect it to be boring because it’s in Walsall and it’s about leather. To be completely honest, I went out with the expectations of it being bad — but it was actually so fun! The staff are so friendly and there are so many activities to do! People should visit a lot more often. It’s beautiful to see history of a place like Walsall — you never hear much about it, so being able to see it , especially because it’s somewhere I live, was so amazing! Unfortunately, I heard the council is threatening to close this place down — which will be such a shame as it is such a beautiful experience. I hope a lot more people are influenced to visit after reading this, we should support our local history!!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Save the Walsall Leather Museum, visit now while it's still there. A step back into the essence of Walsall's heritage.
Source: google.com
Save this museum! Please visit before its gone for good. Step back to the essence of Walsall's heritage. Well worth a visit. Staff are lovely, friendly and knowledgeable.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Nice place to go to small shop and exhibits could be closing down soon
Source: google.com
I liked the museum a lot. Free entry is very encouraging as I've never thought I would be interested in leather making process and history. What a great experience! Informative and polite staff, 60p "design and make yourself" keyrings are very popular and most of all beautiful smell of real leather. Leather samples of colours, patterns and thickness are very impressive! Imagine the leather dress which would be slightly thicker than silk.....
Source: google.com
Absolute gem of a museum. Had a thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating visit today. Free to enter. Great central location. Staff were so helpful and welcoming and knowledgeable. Had a brilliant day out. Would highly recommend. So glad we went.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a wonderful museum with helpful volunteers. The history of leather making included leather workers explaining their skills and the interactive displays were very informative. A hidden gem !
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An unexpected delight, this museum is a treasure trove of interesting items, pictures, materials, tools and products. Its history is important not just to Walsall but to visitors from across the globe who will view displays that will resonate with people of any age and many nationalities.
Whilst the friendly and helpful staff are a real asset, the fact that the building itself was used for many years for leather manufacture in variety is key to the experience. Visitors can imagine the noises, smells and sounds that filled the building in which they are standing. Their imaginations are supported by the layout, rooms and atmosphere of the place itself.
Whilst the friendly and helpful staff are a real asset, the fact that the building itself was used for many years for leather manufacture in variety is key to the experience. Visitors can imagine the noises, smells and sounds that filled the building in which they are standing. Their imaginations are supported by the layout, rooms and atmosphere of the place itself.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Fantastic little museum. Great displays; not all singing and dancing high tech stuff, but very informative and well presented. The highlights are the workshop rooms which appear just as the workers left them , original tools, original benches and cupboards.This is all set in original Victorian factory buildings. When we heard from the two wonderful members of staff that the museum is to be moved I was shocked- why? The building is essential for the charm, the atmosphere and the originality of the whole museum experience. I truly hope that this is not a cost cutting exercise and that it will not be rehoused in a modern, glass box because "it is more efficient." It certainly wouldn't be as effective. A gem of a museum.
Source: google.com
What a lovely and unique experience. The staff were friendly and very helpful.
The guide was entertaining and knowledgeable.
What a travesty that this piece of iconic local history is going to be knocked down and replaced by an extension to the next-door college.
The guide was entertaining and knowledgeable.
What a travesty that this piece of iconic local history is going to be knocked down and replaced by an extension to the next-door college.
Source: google.com
Decided to go as I heard that the Walsall Leather Museum has to move to another building as Walsall Council wants Walsall College to take it over. Nice looking museum on a couple of floors. There is a café and shop, plus a school room. It is in walking distance of Walsall Station, had to kept checking Google Maps for directions, easy to end up going the wrong direction on foot. Was more straight forward to get back to the station. They are not open on Sunday's.
Source: google.com
Nice place and a lot of history. I dont know why council is closing it. This museum is the history of walsall and dont get rid of the title of walsall and why leather is important
Source: google.com
The museum is very good, the significance of the trade to the area is amazing and the history is encapsulated in the building and craftsman’s tools. Above all, the staff are fantastic!
Source: google.com
BBC News: A decision to sell Walsall Leather Museum to the town's college has been criticised by the MP and campaigners. "The council has tried to justify its complete disregard not only for cultural heritage and popularity across the UK and internationally, but the impact on Walsall's leather industry and its potential to build on its world-leading reputation".
Source: google.com
An excellent place to visit giving a very interesting history of Walsall and the leather industry.
Source: google.com
Very sad that this wonderful museum is under threat. Fantastic facility run by really nice people. Enjoyed a coffee and a chat
Source: google.com
Was free to go in. Small place, not busy which suited our SEND family. Made a keyring or two at the end, which was very cost effective. You'd only spend about 1 hour in here, we spent 3 hours as there was quite a few of us and we all made a few different keyrings.
Staff were lovely and friendly.
Gift shop is leather goods they have made at the museum, and a few toys.
They offer different courses if you are into things like painting.
It's ashame that the council are moving this museum, as the history will be lost. The benches that many have worked on, the windows many looked out on their working shift, their work stations... All lost because the college wants to space to expand, even though it moved from the opposite side of the road to the site it is currently in. Go very soon before it's moved and you can no longer run your hand down the wooden work benchs that bares our history.
Staff were lovely and friendly.
Gift shop is leather goods they have made at the museum, and a few toys.
They offer different courses if you are into things like painting.
It's ashame that the council are moving this museum, as the history will be lost. The benches that many have worked on, the windows many looked out on their working shift, their work stations... All lost because the college wants to space to expand, even though it moved from the opposite side of the road to the site it is currently in. Go very soon before it's moved and you can no longer run your hand down the wooden work benchs that bares our history.
Source: google.com
Great place to visit. Such a shame it is likely to be moved to a new building. This is an original build, lots of history- why does the council insist on the move?????
Source: google.com
Took a prebooked tour with friends although you can walk around yourself. A very interesting town centre museum inside an purpose built building, where you are encouraged to touch the various leathers and hold tools 100+ years old that were actually used by local people, for the various leather crafts. Machinery manufactured and used over a century ago, all still in working order. Walsall was an important part of the industrial revolution, making horse saddles and later as horses were less used, various leather goods. The tour guides were informative and keen to pass on their knowledge with demonstrations plus there were videos of people who worked in the industry sharing their skills. We made a keyring to bring home. A place many go past without realising but one we should visit or pop in for a cuppa. Easily accessible by foot, car or bus.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
