Walsall Leather Museum
Latest Reviews
The children not keen to go but quickly got absorbed and the friendly and knowledgeable staff kept them engaged. Worth a visit for all ages.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
It was absolutely fascinating to learn about Walsall's history of leather-making. The staff were very friendly and informative. We were lucky enough to have a talk from local leather craftsman, Keith Parker, who told us about the machines used for stitching and splitting, and showed us various examples of leather produced from different animal skins including ostrich, crocodile and ray! We also looked at his work and were particularly impressed by the hat box he made which contains around 6,000 stitches!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My 9 year old really wanted to have a look round, the last time I visited was 20 years ago. Went on Friday as he had teacher training, had a lovely walk round, free to get in, there was a school in at the same time but this did not cause us any issues. If you have an hour to spare and interested in local history well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I went on the weekend (Saturday) Its was really interesting and a really fascinating collection. I would highly recommend this place to anyone interested in local history and craftsmanship! The volunteers are also very helpful, they explained all different types of leather; how it was used in history and how it is still used today. There is also a lovely little cafe and a large carpark just over the road. Also the shop sold lots of great leather work from top makers.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited on a Saturday. Entry was free and there where a few volunteer staff (some still working in the leather industry) on hand to talk us through the tanning process and tools used in the trade. To take everything I would allow at least an hour.. maybe two if you decide to visit the cafe on site! For a small fee you can make a keyring which would appeal to younger visitors and the large carpark opposite the museum is very reasonably priced.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a little known museum in the centre of Walsall.
It is a few minutes walk from the station and town centre. Ideal for senior citizens who can use their bus passes. The museum is free to enter. We had an excellent tour with Ian as our guide who has worked there for 20 years and is also an author of local history books. The whole museum was extremely interesting but on a Friday they have two past workers, Wendy and Paul telling you all about their experiences having worked in the leather industry for over 40 years.
It is a few minutes walk from the station and town centre. Ideal for senior citizens who can use their bus passes. The museum is free to enter. We had an excellent tour with Ian as our guide who has worked there for 20 years and is also an author of local history books. The whole museum was extremely interesting but on a Friday they have two past workers, Wendy and Paul telling you all about their experiences having worked in the leather industry for over 40 years.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our year 1 classes had a great time taking part in the Shoe Maker and the Elves workshop. They loved creating their slippers and really enjoyed making a key ring each and the dog collars. Exceptional value for money!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very informative place to visit to get all the background on the history of leather working in Walsall.
Children can get hands on with making small leather items.
Good clean and tidy facilities ,makes a welcome change to some other places visited in the past.
Well done Walsall keep up the good work, we will visit again later in the year so we can sit out in the garden with a cup of tea etc.
Children can get hands on with making small leather items.
Good clean and tidy facilities ,makes a welcome change to some other places visited in the past.
Well done Walsall keep up the good work, we will visit again later in the year so we can sit out in the garden with a cup of tea etc.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I visited in February half term with my 2 youngest grandchildren, my friend and her cousin's daughter and we had a fabulous day. There were activities for the children to do and they were fully occupied. Today I returned with my husband, sister and brother-in-law. We really enjoyed it. Very interesting and informative. The staff were friendly and helpful on both occasions. In February we used the cafe which is lovely. A good range of food and drinks are available. Food was served hot and we didn't have to wait long for it.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Well presented, interesting for adults and young children very friendly staff and excellent facilities and all free! Amazing! Highly recommended
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Really great place to visit ... We very very impressed and thought the staff were very knowledgeable.. Quite a bit to see ... Will be going back to spend a bit more time there ... Also surprised to find it wasfree...
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I went with a group of friends from U3A. We had a very interesting tour of the museum with one of the volunteers, Ian, who was informative and entertaining. Then we met 2 retired leatherworkers, Wendy and Paul, who gave us an idea on what it was like to work with leather from cutting out to finishing. They were enthusiastic and proud to have been part of the long tradition of leatherwork in Walsall. Everyone answered our many questions with patience and I came away wondering why most of us had never visited the museum before. It needs as much support as possible to continue educating visitors and schoolchildren. MT, Solihull
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
After driving past for a few years finally made the time to go in and have a look we found it to be a fascinating place, lovely staff, very informative, enjoyed our visit and will be returning soon
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My wife and I visited the museum on Friday 26th February 2016, with a group of friends, traveling there by train from Solihull. We had a tour guide called Ian, who was extremely informative on the history of leather making, and we enjoyed the tour immensely. The highlight, at the end of our tour, was meeting two retired workers in the leather industry,Paul and Wendy, who talked to us about their 45 year careers working in Walsall. It was great being able to ask questions and get answers from two people with all that practical experience of working with leather. The tour lasted about 11/2 hours, which included about a 20 minute talk and demonstration from Paul and Wendy.
The tour was free and I commend Walsall Council for supporting the museum.
We had a very good value lunch after our tour in their café.
The tour was free and I commend Walsall Council for supporting the museum.
We had a very good value lunch after our tour in their café.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
By arrangement we had coffee/tea on arrival in the meeting room where we were able to leave our personal belongings whilst having a tour lasting about 1.5hours. The tour guide was knowledgeable and amusing. In addition we were entertained by 2 volunteers who, between them, had more than 90 years experience in the leather industry: in their workroom we were each able to make a small embossed souvenir to take away. We then had a very pleasant and inexpensive lunch in the meeting room. The whole experience was interesting, educative and enjoyable.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I took a mixed age (15-18) and ability group of special needs pupils for a visit to the Leather Museum the pupils took part in two workshops, a tour of the museum and a handling session of leather artefacts.
The workshops were well organised and delivered to the pupils needs, The Museum tour was informative and the pupils all loved the activities. It was super value for money and a lovely environment, with excellent staff. It is a hidden gem and I will definitely be taking other groups of pupils for a visit.
You can have a quick visit or extend the time by booking workshops. The Museum also runs Weekend courses for adults and children, also holiday activities for children.
The only room for improvement would be the toilet provision for a group visit.
The workshops were well organised and delivered to the pupils needs, The Museum tour was informative and the pupils all loved the activities. It was super value for money and a lovely environment, with excellent staff. It is a hidden gem and I will definitely be taking other groups of pupils for a visit.
You can have a quick visit or extend the time by booking workshops. The Museum also runs Weekend courses for adults and children, also holiday activities for children.
The only room for improvement would be the toilet provision for a group visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Excellent friendly welcome. Interesting real things to see. Plenty of activities for young ones. We spoke with a fascinating lady who had spent half a century working in the leather industry - full of knowledge and experience. The little cafe was very pleasant and the staff in the shop were very helpful and had very good product knowledge. Clean, pleasant facilities and charming staff.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
My wife and I have lived in Walsall for many years and are well into retirement , I saw advertised an exhibition re the airship raid on Walsall and the black country hence the very first visit we not only saw the exhibit but as it was situated within the leather museum we also saw how leather has been worked over the centuries here , with out going on too much I would like to say the museum and its staff are a credit to the place and what it stands for, our past history and how proud we should all be , many thanks for a most informative and interesting visit and we will most certainly highly recommend people to visit as we intend to again in the future.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Spent about an hour here with 2 children (aged 4 and 6) last year. It was a gem of a museum. The children found it an interesting experience and enjoyed making their key rings. Staff really knowledgeable and happy to answer my children's questions.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The museum is easy to find and entrance is free, and though the museum is not large it is interesting to visit with historical exhibits and some hands on stuff too.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visiting the museum is an excellent way to spend half a day: welcoming and helpful staff throughout and the exhibits well presented, interesting and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the collection and were fascinated by the workshops set out as they would have been when in full production. We ended our visit by having lunch in the bright and cheerful cafe. Can thoroughly recommend the curry: very tasty and good value for money...
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Found it very pleasant and very educational. Lived in Walsall all my life and didn't know half things that was told me
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful and attractive collection. It is also well organised and presented by people who are really nice and available :)
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
On a very wet and windy morning, I set off to make a visit to this well established and inviting museum, quite local to my home. The plan was to take a look around and invite my father, who came along with me, to select a Walsall made leather wallet as a 92nd birthday gift.
The building was warm and immediately inviting. The smiles on the staff in the reception areas confirmed that our choice of venue was a good one. We firstly visited the cafe which was beautifully set out and brightly decorated. The two gingerbread lates which we enjoyed were delicious and at £1.80 each the cheapest to date that I have purchased!
On to the guided tour by local historian and author, Ian Bott. His tour was perfect. It was informative and interesting with touches of humour. He also invited us to be part of his dialogue which made the whole experience refreshingly informative. Then on to a demonstration of leather goods making by Keith Parker. He is a skilled leather worker and has a wonderful way of delivering facts about the leather industry and all the processes. We all learned a lot from him today and had great pleasure in doing so.
Back to the shop where my father selected a beautifully made and very reasonably priced dark green wallet. He was delighted with the purchase. Ian Bott was very happy to sign two of his historical books that we bought in the shop. We really look forward to reading them.
The town of Walsall can be proud of it's historical significance in the leather trade. Did you know that the Queen has her handbags made especially for her in Walsall? Walsall also makes all the saddles for the horses belonging to the Royal Family. Did you know that? If not, go along to hear more interesting facts about the leather industry which is alive and well in Walsall.
Support your local museum! You'll be pleased that you did.
The building was warm and immediately inviting. The smiles on the staff in the reception areas confirmed that our choice of venue was a good one. We firstly visited the cafe which was beautifully set out and brightly decorated. The two gingerbread lates which we enjoyed were delicious and at £1.80 each the cheapest to date that I have purchased!
On to the guided tour by local historian and author, Ian Bott. His tour was perfect. It was informative and interesting with touches of humour. He also invited us to be part of his dialogue which made the whole experience refreshingly informative. Then on to a demonstration of leather goods making by Keith Parker. He is a skilled leather worker and has a wonderful way of delivering facts about the leather industry and all the processes. We all learned a lot from him today and had great pleasure in doing so.
Back to the shop where my father selected a beautifully made and very reasonably priced dark green wallet. He was delighted with the purchase. Ian Bott was very happy to sign two of his historical books that we bought in the shop. We really look forward to reading them.
The town of Walsall can be proud of it's historical significance in the leather trade. Did you know that the Queen has her handbags made especially for her in Walsall? Walsall also makes all the saddles for the horses belonging to the Royal Family. Did you know that? If not, go along to hear more interesting facts about the leather industry which is alive and well in Walsall.
Support your local museum! You'll be pleased that you did.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Fabulous visit, friendly staff. Enjoyed demonstration by Claire on leather stitching, she encouraged us to gave a go. Would recommend this unique museum
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
