Future plans for the Leather Museum
The current museum building on Littleton Street West is closing as part of a planned transition to a new location in Walsall town centre.
The move will help secure the long-term future of the museum by placing it in a more visible and accessible location. We want to help more residents, schools and visitors discover Walsall’s world-famous leather heritage.
The museum will relocate to 1–3 The Bridge, in the heart of Walsall town centre.
This building sits between Park Street and the Walsall Leather Skills Centre. The location will help strengthen links between heritage, skills and the town’s continuing leather industry.
The museum will close at its current site on Sunday 12 April 2026.
During the transition period, the collection will be carefully prepared and moved to the new building.
We will share updates on exact dates and timelines on this page and through Walsall Council’s other communication channels.
The museum’s nationally significant collection of leather goods, tools, machinery and archives will be carefully protected and preserved during the move.
Specialist staff will ensure the collection is safely stored while plans are developed for new displays and exhibitions in the future museum.
You can see the museum's collection of objects in a searchable online catalogue. This resource is shared with the other Black Country museums and archives.
To view Walsall's collections, filter the results by partner and select 'Walsall Museums Service'.
Yes. The relocation will allow the museum to reopen in a new town-centre home with improved opportunities to showcase Walsall’s leather-making history and craft traditions.
The aim is to create a modern museum that celebrates the past while inspiring future generations of leatherworkers and designers.
Yes. Walsall Council plans to engage residents, local businesses and the leather industry in shaping the future museum.
Community feedback will help inform how the new museum tells the story of Walsall’s leather trade and how visitors experience it.
Yes, you can contact us to talk about your requirements.
Updates about the closure of the current museum and plans for the new site will be shared on this page and through Walsall Council’s social media channels.
