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School visits to the Leather Museum

Key Stages

Our topics and activities have been specially tailored to complement the needs of the National Curriculum. A visit to the museum can complement work on local history, the Victorians, materials and many other subjects. The museum can also act as an excellent case study for students studying GNVQ Leisure and Tourism.

We can offer guided tours and demonstrations, plus an opportunity for groups to join in genuine leatherworking activities in our period workshops. The museum is also very happy to offer support to teachers wishing to pursue independent themes of study.

Please note that all services are free to schools within Walsall Borough and only a minimal charge is made to those operating outside the Walsall area, for hands-on activities.

Teaching aids

Walsall Leather Museum publishes a range of teachers' aids, packs and fact sheets. These include:

  • History of Walsall's Leather Trade: Teachers' Resource Pack ( key stage 2, £5.50)
  • The Origins and Early History of the Walsall Leather Trade (£1.00)
  • In the Leather - reminiscences of Walsall leatherworkers with numerous historic photographs (£1.50)
  • Stitching and Skiving: Walsall's Women Leatherworkers - examines the neglected role of women in the Walsall leather trade. Well illustrated with historic and contemporary photographs (£1.25)
  • Thomas Newton: A Pioneer of the Walsall Leather Trade - entertaining account of the life of the founder of the Walsall leather trade (£1.00)
  • 200 Years of Walsall Leather - a chronology of the Walsall leather trade (75p)
  • The Walsall Leather Trade Today - fact sheet (25p)
  • Leather Bibliography - a bibliography of books published on the subject of leather (90p)
  • Leather Quarter Trail - Explore Walsall's surviving leather district (£1.50)

We also have a large collection of photographs and oral history recordings as well as objects which may be loaned out to schools.

Booking a school visit

Please note that the museum is closed on Mondays and opens at 10am on other days . Teachers are very welcome to make preparatory visits to the Museum to discuss their plans and the range of activities available - please contact the assistant curator.

Risk assessment form

For your convenience, you may download our school visit risk assessment form(PDF 138 KB) prior to your visit.

Adobe PDF

To view Adobe PDF documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download Acrobat Reader for free from the Adobe website. Viewers with visual difficulties may find it useful to investigate services provided to improve the accessibility of Acrobat documents http://access.adobe.com

Contact us

Leather Museum
Littleton Street West
Walsall
WS2 8EQ

Telephone 01922 721153
Fax 01922 725827
Email leathermuseum@walsall.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 12 May 2008