Walsall Leather Museum
Latest Reviews
Very nice staff, and interesting things to see
Source: google.com
Welcoming friendly staff that had lots of knowledge about walsall and its leather industry.
Source: google.com
Very good history of the manufacture and art of leather, with activities for children to make and take home.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A marvellous place to visit, both interesting and entertaining. The staff were welcoming and enthusiastic in their roles.
Source: google.com
Brilliant and full of history, the employee's are terrific.
Source: google.com
Quiet, good for young kids
Source: google.com
A great museum giving the history of the production of leather goods in Walsall and other manufacturers related to Walsall. Also men from the area who were given the Victoria Cross for bravery. Some of the exhibitions change giving a reason to go to see more.
Source: google.com
This is an unpretentious but classy museum - a tribute to the time when Walsall was the centre of leather-goods making, including the finest saddles in Europe.
Sited in a former factory, the place has a very authentic atmosphere, with a muted, unmistakeable animal scent. Lots of hides draped on rails and tables make it a tactile affair too. Not a visit for a vegan, but great for children and adults who love social/urban history. The information is presented in clear, manageable chunks - mostly on posters.
A bonus - a small but effective exhibition about Spanish Flu, the terrible pandemic of 1918-1920. A sadly topical subject, but not planned that way, apparently.
Met three of the staff, all friendly and knowledgeable about leather and its stories and also about the surrounding area. Possible to get a hot drink from the welcome desk, but was told the cafe had closed a while ago. This should be re-opened; this museum is unique and deserves one. There's a small but attractive garden, but access should be available from within the building itself.
The attraction isn't far from the Bus Station, where I arrived, my first visit to the town. There was only one sign to the Museum, barely visible; had to ask directions - so the signage needs real attention.
Sited in a former factory, the place has a very authentic atmosphere, with a muted, unmistakeable animal scent. Lots of hides draped on rails and tables make it a tactile affair too. Not a visit for a vegan, but great for children and adults who love social/urban history. The information is presented in clear, manageable chunks - mostly on posters.
A bonus - a small but effective exhibition about Spanish Flu, the terrible pandemic of 1918-1920. A sadly topical subject, but not planned that way, apparently.
Met three of the staff, all friendly and knowledgeable about leather and its stories and also about the surrounding area. Possible to get a hot drink from the welcome desk, but was told the cafe had closed a while ago. This should be re-opened; this museum is unique and deserves one. There's a small but attractive garden, but access should be available from within the building itself.
The attraction isn't far from the Bus Station, where I arrived, my first visit to the town. There was only one sign to the Museum, barely visible; had to ask directions - so the signage needs real attention.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Fascinating All free and the people there have a vast knowledge Good afternoon spent.
Source: google.com
Amazing and Fab staff
Source: google.com
This place is okay... recommend this place to people who’s into the art of leather. This is a place for everyone
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A very informative visit to a most enjoyable venue showing how we developed the leather craft from its beginning to it's present position. Everyone was very helpful and we would recommend it to family and friends.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Another excellent visit to the Leather Museum. 39 Year 6 children learning about suffragettes. Started with dressing up, a bit of a history talk then making sashes. The children then marched around the museum singing the suffragettes song and shouting 'votes for women!' The visit ended with the children being taken outside and chaining a suffragette to the railings! The whole trip was very well planned, the staff very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly and the children loved it. I would recommend any group to do this trip.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
On a damp day on a walkabout visiting some pubs this visit shone. From the staff to the exhibits and the very reaonably priced shop everything was a delightful experience. It came as surprise to learn that nearly all the items for sale like the really smart belt I bought were made on the premises or at least in Walsall. Marvellous.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Really interesting visit learnt a lot of interesting facts. If taking children they have some hands on activity too
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An amazing monument to Walsall's long and proud history as a centre of the leather trade. If you have time you should visit and enjoy the heritage of our town.
Source: thebestof.co.uk
Worth a day out very interesting as I work with saddles items in shop bit over priced nice cafe for something to eat and drink
Source: google.com
It free entry and was very quiet but it's that time of the year it gave us time to look at everything in more detail staff very friendly and helpful enjoy all the exhibitions and making a free keyring.
Source: google.com
Excellent well worth a visit, very helpful and knowledgeable staff, parking nearby lots to see and find out didn't realise there were so many activities taking place there.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A very interesting place to browse for an hour or two. Lots of historical info on Walsall leather industry. Also a very nice shop with discounted leather goods, purses, wallets, belts etc. Parking easy just across the street from the museum.
Source: google.com
Visited Museum last Saturday with family and had a great couple of hours learning about the histroy of the leather industry in Walsall and having a go at embossing some leather key fobs. Staff/volunteers were very welcoming and friendly. Well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Friendly and very informative
Source: google.com
Let’s take a rest from Stafford and explore the smaller towns.
Walsall.
And it’s most unfortunate that the Walsall Museum has closed down and as library staff tells me – for three years now.
But instead here is a Leather Museum that’s in every sense the museum of Walsall.
START OF THE STORY. Before you're to enter the gallery the smell of wallets and purses is already filling up your senses.
And here’s how the gallery entrance starts its narrative – that Walsall used to be the biggest leather making town in the entire Northern Europe.
PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS. Creative use of leather – saddles, key fobs, even outfits for dogs. And they come from a variety of sources from pigs to snakes to anything less imaginable – like ostriches.
(Meanwhile a display board tells you that many English traditional surnames get their roots from leather makers – Barker, Skinner, Tanner etc.}
Upstairs a staffer will explain how saddles are made and their various types (weight, shapes, luxuriousness and materials etc.). And the balance between comfort, durability and lightness.
(As you can imagine – races typically involve lighter saddles.)
LOCATION. The museum is a ten-minute walk from Walsall Station.
Exit the station and keep walking north. You’ll be going through Station Street, Park Street, a roundabout and finally Wisemore. Cross the Littleton Street and the museum is right beside the Walsall College.
Walsall.
And it’s most unfortunate that the Walsall Museum has closed down and as library staff tells me – for three years now.
But instead here is a Leather Museum that’s in every sense the museum of Walsall.
START OF THE STORY. Before you're to enter the gallery the smell of wallets and purses is already filling up your senses.
And here’s how the gallery entrance starts its narrative – that Walsall used to be the biggest leather making town in the entire Northern Europe.
PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS. Creative use of leather – saddles, key fobs, even outfits for dogs. And they come from a variety of sources from pigs to snakes to anything less imaginable – like ostriches.
(Meanwhile a display board tells you that many English traditional surnames get their roots from leather makers – Barker, Skinner, Tanner etc.}
Upstairs a staffer will explain how saddles are made and their various types (weight, shapes, luxuriousness and materials etc.). And the balance between comfort, durability and lightness.
(As you can imagine – races typically involve lighter saddles.)
LOCATION. The museum is a ten-minute walk from Walsall Station.
Exit the station and keep walking north. You’ll be going through Station Street, Park Street, a roundabout and finally Wisemore. Cross the Littleton Street and the museum is right beside the Walsall College.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very good if you have an interest in leather
Source: google.com
Went to the Leather Museum with my wife and had an enjoyable visit finding out about the leather industry and seeing the workshops. Would recommend being able to make your own key ring for 60p. Parking available nearby.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
