Category: leather making

Walsall Leather Museum: Plans to Relocate Museum Reversed

Walsall Leather Museum: Plans to Relocate Museum Reversed

mikenevell

Walsall Council has abandoned plans to relocate the Walsall Leather Museum, closed in April. The new Reform council administration agreed on 24 July to reverse the previous admistration’s decision to relocate the Walsall Leather Museum to the centre of town. Instead, the new council voted to reopen the museum in its current home, a Grade II listed 19th-century leather factory.  

The council said that: “The existing museum building is itself a key component of the heritage offer, providing authenticity, historical context and a visitor experience that would be difficult to replicate through relocation. Retaining the museum in its current location presents a strong opportunity to enhance Walsall’s cultural offer while maintaining a direct connection to its industrial heritage.”

One of the campaigners against the move, Lauren Broxton, is quoted by the Museum Association as saying: “After a gruelling 18 months campaigning, we are thrilled by these developments. It has been emotionally and mentally taxing on many of us and we appreciate every share, petition sign, letter, and collective support. On behalf of the campaign group, I want to thank you all for the amazing support you have given us during this time – it has been crucial to reaching this milestone. We still face challenges and obstacles ahead (we are not naive to the almost inevitable likelihood of the Conservative opposition calling this in for scrutiny) and are continuing to work hard to ensure the best outcome is secured.”

More details here: Plans to relocate Walsall Leather Museum scrapped by new Reform council – Museums Association

The Walsall Leather Museum’s 19th century factory buildign was given Grade II Listed status earlier this year. Image courtesy of the museum.
Walsall Leather Museum Given Listed Status

Walsall Leather Museum Given Listed Status

mikenevell

The Walsall Leather Museum in the Midlands, which is housed in the 19th century brick-built, multi-storey, buildings of the former Withers and Son and Samuel Llewellen leather works buildings, was given Grade II listed status earlier this month. The museum is facing closure on the 11 April, although Walsall Council has purchased new premises in the centre of the town for the proposed site of the re-located museum. A time-frame for the re-opening is yet to be announced.

In announcing the listing, Historic England noted that “We recommended listing the buildings at Grade II due to their historic and architectural interest. Leather working is strongly associated with Walsall, and the town is still a major centre for the industry. The workshops on Wisemore are among a very small group of such buildings of this date surviving in Walsall, and so are of particular significance for the town as they embody the industry that played a major part in the lives of many local people.”

In response to the listing, Walsall Council’s leader Mike Bird was quoted in the local press as saying: ‘It might be heritage to them but at the end of the day it’s an old factory, simple as that.’

More details about the listing, proposed closure, and move of the museum can be found here: Walsall Leather Museum’s listed status ‘won’t affect move’

The listing details can be found here: Two former leather goods works, Wisemore, Non Civil Parish – 1495986 | Historic England

The Walsall Leather Museum. Image courtesy of the museum.