Campaigners are rallying against Walsall Council’s proposed closure of the town’s leather museum, calling the move an “affront” to the area’s rich heritage in the leather industry.
Plans include digitizing parts of the museum’s collection and relocating some artefacts to other locations.
However, opponents argue this would strip the town of a vital connection to its history.
Lauren Broxton, a fashion designer specializing in leather for three decades, highlighted the industry’s deep roots in Walsall’s identity, stating, “Everybody knows someone who works in leather, or whose family has worked in leather.”
The museum, housed in a Victorian building once used for leather production, showcases the craft’s processes and Walsall’s historical links to the trade through artefacts and personal stories.
An online petition opposing the closure has gathered over 2,000 signatures.
Claire Taylor, who started the petition, described the museum as “a meeting place, an educational resource, and a symbol of our unique leather-working heritage.”
Broxton added that the museum’s sensory experience—its smells, sounds, and feel—cannot be replicated digitally.
Walsall Council has defended the proposal, citing the need for greater visitor numbers and improved accessibility.
Councillor Gary Flint emphasized plans for a “new, inclusive, and progressive museum” within a cultural hub.
The council is also considering feedback from consultations ahead of a decision expected later this month.
Campaigners, however, remain steadfast, urging the community to amplify their concerns.
Broxton expressed hope that public outcry would sway the council, preserving a landmark she described as both “a relic and a shrine” to Walsall’s leather-making heritage.
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