Walsall Leather Museum
Latest Reviews
nice little museum. popped in to kill a few hours very interesting and worth a look very freindly and knowledgable staff
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent small museum in which to spend a very interesting hour or so. Friendly staff, lovely leather goods shop and free entry ! (donation)
All with the wonderful smell of leather.
All with the wonderful smell of leather.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I recently visited the museum and thoroughly enjoyed looking back in time and the industry that made Walsall famous across the world. The premises that house the museum is very small but that somehow adds to the atmosphere. I found the people in the museum to have knowledge of the industry as most have worked in it and not just answer questions but to give the visitor a virtual guided tour of the leather industry in the years past. A very good day out
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Had a very interesting visit here we are warmly greeted by a young man in the shop and then meet the saddler who showed us what to look for in a good leather and a man called Bill who was very welcoming unfortunately a school party took him away to give a talk. I enjoyed looking at the old photos of men and women who used to work the leather.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent museum and staff - really well worth visiting. The amenities in the area have been wrecked by the govt cuts, I just hope this museum survives.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Recently attended a society meeting here and the facilities are excellent. The restaurant staff cooked meals to order for our members and we were wowed by the locally made bags, wallets and other items on sale in the shop. Schools and families use the museum all the time, it's very child friendly and there's lots to see and do. I wonder if the councillors who wanted to close this historic building to the public had ever been there?
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited as a group of Year Six children.
The staff were so welcoming, and their knowledge was superb. The visit started off with a short introduction about the Anglo-Saxons, then the children went on to make their own leather Anglo-Saxon helmets. They absolutely loved it! Very hands-on with plenty of help from staff and the finished products were excellent quality and very authentic. The children were thrilled with the end results. We had a tour afterwards, which the children found really interesting, and they got to make various leather items, including key rings.
I would thoroughly recommend this, either as someone with children or as a group of school children. The staff are extremely polite and helpful, the finished products were of excellent material and quality, and, most important of all, the children had a fantastic day, with one of them stating 'It was the best school trip ever!' Thank you David and the team for an excellent, informative day.
The staff were so welcoming, and their knowledge was superb. The visit started off with a short introduction about the Anglo-Saxons, then the children went on to make their own leather Anglo-Saxon helmets. They absolutely loved it! Very hands-on with plenty of help from staff and the finished products were excellent quality and very authentic. The children were thrilled with the end results. We had a tour afterwards, which the children found really interesting, and they got to make various leather items, including key rings.
I would thoroughly recommend this, either as someone with children or as a group of school children. The staff are extremely polite and helpful, the finished products were of excellent material and quality, and, most important of all, the children had a fantastic day, with one of them stating 'It was the best school trip ever!' Thank you David and the team for an excellent, informative day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely place to visit especially with children. A chance to learn about the heritage of Walsall. Activitiies in school holidays are excellent and the cafe is great. Do give it a try.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Went to view the "OLD HALL" stainless steel exhibition.The display was amazing. Given a tour of the leather areas which were very interesting. How fortunate is Walsall to have such a place to preserve our heritage. We must come against any plan to close it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I took 2 grandchildren for an event making (stained glass) window collages, then went round the leather museum. We did the Easter egg hunt and quiz. My 5 year old grandson loved it. He was asking lots of questions that the staff were happy to answer. We will go again in a few months. A lovely time had by all. Thank you x
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Clare gave us a tour of the museum, it was extremely interesting and very much an eye-opener into how much work and pride went into the making of saddles and Lorinery in the Walsall area. Clare made the tour informative and entertaining and we also got to see Bill who talked us through the process of saddle-making. For anyone visiting the area I would recommend it highly as it is a very good usage of two hours of your time and is extremely illuminating. You also get to do a bit of leatherwork... If you live in the area and haven't been, go!!!!. Phone ahead and book a guide to make best use of your time but its also good to visit without a guide.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A well thought out museum showing the art of leatherwork in saddlery and many other aspects off this versitile material made in the local area .Entry is free so pop in and see for your self.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Mike gave us a guided tour, covering everything from what's inside the queen's handbag, to anthrax and fake alligator skin. We had a go at saddle stitch and made our own gold impressed leather key Ring. Brilliant day out with smiles all around 😊
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Brilliant place to visit. Informative though the explanatory labelling could do with being a bit higher off the floor.
Small museum but with plenty to see & feel.
Small museum but with plenty to see & feel.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We went on a tour with David our guide, he was passionate about the museum, leather and Walsall making our trip exceptional. I worked in Walsall from the 1970s until 2000 when there was more of a Leather trade, but learnt so much more during the tour. The exhibitions are very informative and cared for. It was great to make a key fob as a memento.
There are a great many things happening at the museum, check out the website for more details.
We ended our tour in the cafe with a lovely cup of tea before a visit to the shop.
Well worth a visit, thanks to David
There are a great many things happening at the museum, check out the website for more details.
We ended our tour in the cafe with a lovely cup of tea before a visit to the shop.
Well worth a visit, thanks to David
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great place to learn and have fun keep an eye out for the free days mainly bank holidays ..great for all the family
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Took my 77 year old parents here today. We were offered a guided tour or we could walk around by ourselves. We opted to have the guided tour as you often gain more information that way. The tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the leather industry and the local town. The resident saddler was passionate about his job and spent a long time demonstrating his skills and answering our questions.
We didn't stop in the cafe as we had made other arrangements for lunch.
The time flew by and we really enjoyed our visit. Would recommend it.
There is NO entry fee!! We made a contribution though and made a purchase in the gift shop.
We didn't stop in the cafe as we had made other arrangements for lunch.
The time flew by and we really enjoyed our visit. Would recommend it.
There is NO entry fee!! We made a contribution though and made a purchase in the gift shop.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
good place to visit just taking family for a day trip and they could do with the local support, keep something alive in Walsall for the future generation to come, they will love this place
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very nteresting material, good layout; very helpful and informative people on duty, from top down..
Excellent food in cafe. Great experience
Excellent food in cafe. Great experience
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A very nice and friendly museum with an onsite cafe. Lots of information about the history of leather making in Walsall. When we visited there was an exhibition of Old Hall Stainless Steel tableware which was very well presented with a lot of information. The Museum Shop has a good selection of very good quality leather gifts. Will definitely recommend to friends.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Took a party of people to Leather Museum who were totally absorbed with the displays and presentation of the history and development of the leather and saddle making industry in Walsall. The enthusiasm of the staff was a delight to experience. A guided tour planned for 1 hour lasted nearly 2 hours and some members want to go back again. It was well worth making a donation at the end of the tour to keep such wonderful parts of our historical heritage in the public domain.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I took two groups of Year 11 pupils on two separate day visits to Walsall Leather museum. The pupils experienced a range of activities- such as ink making and writing with a quill to making a dog collar and leather key fobs, trying on items of clothing made from leather and handling a range of different leather skins; learning how to tell the difference between real and fake snake skin for example, David Mills led the activities and the tour of the museum. He was excellent with the pupils explaining and answering questions, demonstrating a wide knowledge and real enthusiasm for both the place and his work.
These visits were part of our Arts Award exam work exploring pupils local heritage, It is such an interesting place to visit, a real gem. The museum has managed to keep the original workshops and feel of the place alongside modern amenities.The display cabinets hold items of interest from the heritage of Walsall and when we were there the needlework display was stunning- all made by different areas and covering the range of industry and cultural heritage of the local areas.
It is certainly a place for local people to be proud of and to show visitors the skills and workmanship of the folk who worked in the leather and manufacturing industry in Walsall, All the staff are helpful and friendly and the cafe is good too!
These visits were part of our Arts Award exam work exploring pupils local heritage, It is such an interesting place to visit, a real gem. The museum has managed to keep the original workshops and feel of the place alongside modern amenities.The display cabinets hold items of interest from the heritage of Walsall and when we were there the needlework display was stunning- all made by different areas and covering the range of industry and cultural heritage of the local areas.
It is certainly a place for local people to be proud of and to show visitors the skills and workmanship of the folk who worked in the leather and manufacturing industry in Walsall, All the staff are helpful and friendly and the cafe is good too!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I'd always wanted to go but never quite made time until this week.
Wow - to start with its free which would normally be a warning to not go - in this case it's a bonus. Secondly it's a nice size - just large enough to be very informative and interested but too long.
The demonstrators were chatty and very experienced - I leant lots of things about saddles that make a lot of sense but had never occurred to me. I also got to make a key ring.
The cafe is very good. Well priced beautiful food.
Walsall is very proud of its leather making history and should be very proud of its museum.
Wow - to start with its free which would normally be a warning to not go - in this case it's a bonus. Secondly it's a nice size - just large enough to be very informative and interested but too long.
The demonstrators were chatty and very experienced - I leant lots of things about saddles that make a lot of sense but had never occurred to me. I also got to make a key ring.
The cafe is very good. Well priced beautiful food.
Walsall is very proud of its leather making history and should be very proud of its museum.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Large town centre park, something for everyone. Gardens, lakes, children play areas, long walks, exercise/keep-fit areas, tea and ice cream, quietness/ solitude ( if required )
dog walking and pony trekking areas.
dog walking and pony trekking areas.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We go to this cinema all the time now very clean great big screen comfortable chairs if you go before 12 in the afternoon it's only £5
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
