Walsall Leather Museum
Latest Reviews
A great place for a visit , it gives a fascinating look into the past crafts and social history of the area and really places Walsall at the top of the tree for leather work and goods. The exhibition is very interesting with plenty of information and leather goods to examine. The guided talk by Keith was very informative and gave you a real feel for the skill and history of leather work , you also have an opportunity to make a small item as a memento. I would put aside a few hours for your visit and if you can book a tour I would recommend you contact the Museum direct. Parking is a few yards away and makes the place very accessible. One of the best Museums in the area
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Nice free hour out, enjoyed the walk round and cafe. Good for younger kids on the fun days they have here
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The Leather Museum tell the story of an historically important local industry. There is still a remnant industry in Walsall but it is a shadow of what it once was. It is a story well told with interesting exhibits but it is the staff that work there that make it a great experience. Ask questions and you will get interesting answers.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I had walked past this little treasure trove on a number of occasions and decided to pop in. I received a very warm welcome and proceeded to look around at the display, I was fascinated by the amount of sheer hard work and skill that was needed in traditional methods to produce leather. It was a Friday and I was really pleased to come across the workshop where I got an opportunity to make 2 leather keyrings using an embossing process and 2 using a heat foiling process. Another section contained clothes and fabrics from an old haberdashery shop to die for!!! I plan to go back to purchase a new locally-produced handbag - they are gorgeous!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Didn't know what to expect, but this place was amazing and very educational. Whist on our tour we meet Keith he was so knowledgeable, I never knew there we're so many types of leather or suede. A really good trip. I recommend this to everyone brilliant👍
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I went with a group of fashion students and found the experience to be very worthwhile. The staff were all friendly, informative and so much fun. Well done, we highly recommended a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Pretty much had the place to ourselves on a Friday afternoon with two hours to spare. Could have stayed much longer. The place is fascinating and covers so many activities beyond leather work, in line with Walsall's claim to be the town of a thousand trades. It was great to see the skills being demonstrated and to chat with Wendy and Paul while they were making purses. Sorry for the interruption! This museum is a real asset to the area.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Just returned from a visit to the Leather Museum in Walsall. The staff were so helpful and enthusiastic. There are displays of leather (and associated metal) items and several interesting tools and machines of the trade. The museum offers an insight into the various stages and processes of manufacturing leather goods. Volunteers in the workshop (check that they will be there) encourage children (and adults) to try a bit of hands-on work. Overall, an interesting and educational visit.
There is a small cafe for food and beverage.
There is a small cafe for food and beverage.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our visit was a spur of the moment trip, we were visiting the National Memorial Arboretum and had a couple of hours to kill on a very wet and windy morning. We went around the museum which was interesting in itself but the gentleman in the workshop at the end made the trip worthwhile.
He explained how leather was worked and how to tell the difference between genuine and fake leathers. We were told that we had missed out on seeing the most experienced volunteer but we still had a very enjoyable couple of hours here.
He explained how leather was worked and how to tell the difference between genuine and fake leathers. We were told that we had missed out on seeing the most experienced volunteer but we still had a very enjoyable couple of hours here.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Just had a great few hours in the leather museum, a really interesting place & the displays very informative. We spent time with Ron, he's a "star", who explained about the different skins & the tanning process. All the staff in the museum were very helpful and they have a nice shop, selling only Walsall made leather goods, fantastic quality. It's free to get in, but I know you will spend your money in the great café and /or the shop.
We will definitely go back again!!
We will definitely go back again!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My class recently visited the Leather Museum and took in a couple of the mask making activities offered. The children were engaged and learned a lot about how to work and shape the leather.
Hopefully, all of our staff and other schools take a trip to the museum to find out what else they offer.
Hopefully, all of our staff and other schools take a trip to the museum to find out what else they offer.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
After driving past Walsall Leather Museum (WLM) for seven years on my way to work at a primary school in Walsall, I received an email from David Mills, the Education Officer at WLM, who wanted to share the latest curriculum workshops on offer. I knew these workshops would be hugely appealing to the pupils at my school and decided to find out more.
I made an appointment to meet with David over the summer holidays and was impressed when he spent a whole morning giving me a guided tour of the museum and talking through all the potential workshops that WLM could offer to primary age pupils. I was also able to make a keyring and emboss it with a gold leaf teddy bear! During my visit, I enjoyed a cup of tea and delicious slice of Victoria cake in the cafe!
Since my visit, David has hosted training for staff from my school where we were able to examine various artefacts and try on some curious costumes. This has definitely been one of our most favourite professional development sessions!
This term, our Year Four and Five pupils have visited WLM to a make a variety of artefacts such as Anglo Saxon helmets and Osiris masks. The quality of these crafts has been exceptional. The learning that has taken place during these visits has been outstanding.
I would like to say a huge thank you to David Mills for the contagious enthusiasm that he shares for WLM. I think he's inspirational. Thanks also to all other staff at WLM involved in making all of our visits such special experiences.
I made an appointment to meet with David over the summer holidays and was impressed when he spent a whole morning giving me a guided tour of the museum and talking through all the potential workshops that WLM could offer to primary age pupils. I was also able to make a keyring and emboss it with a gold leaf teddy bear! During my visit, I enjoyed a cup of tea and delicious slice of Victoria cake in the cafe!
Since my visit, David has hosted training for staff from my school where we were able to examine various artefacts and try on some curious costumes. This has definitely been one of our most favourite professional development sessions!
This term, our Year Four and Five pupils have visited WLM to a make a variety of artefacts such as Anglo Saxon helmets and Osiris masks. The quality of these crafts has been exceptional. The learning that has taken place during these visits has been outstanding.
I would like to say a huge thank you to David Mills for the contagious enthusiasm that he shares for WLM. I think he's inspirational. Thanks also to all other staff at WLM involved in making all of our visits such special experiences.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What a fantastic day was not expecting to be so good and Ron was a legend it's a free event but I'll be happy to pay with no prob
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great value. The best leather museum I've ever been to. Learnt a lot about the history of leather production in Walsall.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Not only a great museum but a shop selling fantastic leather goods and ALL made in the area. There is also a really good cafe which is excellent value and quality. Best hand cut chips I have had for ages! highly recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited the leather museum with my sons class from school. The staff were brilliant with the children (10 year olds), they were very informative and made the visit very interesting. I would definitely go again with just my family.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
5 star review. Very interesting museum made much better by the wonderful volunteers Ron and Claire giving us a lot of information about why and how the leather trade came about in Walsall. Would be great for children too. Do visit and also look at the New Art Gallery nearby.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great, free activities for children throughout the school holidays. A Very enjoyable morning out for my 3 grandchildren aged 4, 5 & 10. They thoroughly enjoyed exploring the museum and were enthralled with the stories from an original leather worker whose experiences dated back from 1939 - history came alive for them. They made their own key rings for a nominal amount of 50p, and very proudly showed them off when we returned home.
Excellent parking just a minute away and only £1.40 for 2 hours.
The museum also has a lovely cafe.
Thoroughly recommended.
Excellent parking just a minute away and only £1.40 for 2 hours.
The museum also has a lovely cafe.
Thoroughly recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
the people were very helpfuland pleasant when my nephew and me visited .they even let we gold block a piece of leather. they also gave us a interesting speech of the leather industry of which i am familiar as i worked in it in the 60s.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Took all my 3 kids to the Halloween activities and they loved it. They all made a skull and decorated it then we had a look around the museum. They also all made a leather keyring. The whole day cost me 50p (for the keyring). Great day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
As usual the children had a wonderful time at the Leather museum's Halloween activities. Lovely relaxed atmosphere making Mexican death skulls and other activities all absolutely free. Children had a wonderful time. You can then have a tour round the museum which the children found fascinating. The building also houses a lovely garden space and cafe so everything you need for a fun experience. Thank you again to the staff for a fab experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Good informative attraction for all the family, reasonably priced with lots of different event run throughout the year. and plenty of parking.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
There are various rooms to look around the Museum and you can see what the workshops etc would have looked like. Also in one room there are various types of leather on display which is quite interesting to to see. I think sometimes there are days that you can make something like a keyring. They have a cafe and the Museum is very close to a Tesco Extra and the Town Centre so its very easy to get to from the Train Station. ( About 5-10 minutes walk away).
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Well worth a visit, easy to find, plenty of parking opposite. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Never knew leather making was so interesting, bought some interesting books to learn more.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very interesting especially the 90 year young Ron who gave a personal insight into the leather trade. Hope he gets his boots back!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
