Northampton has a very rich and long history in the leather trade, including in our strong reputation for making shoes, which dates back centuries.
The Museum of Leathercraft was founded in London in 1946, and chose to relocate to Northampton to be at the heart of the UK’s footwear and leather industry.
The museum collection currently holds over 11,000 objects and tells the world story of leather from prehistory to present day.
The museum became a registered Charitable Company in 1951 and was accredited as part of the Arts Council England standards for museums in 2013.
This museum features very interesting items, including a leather sedan chair, ancient pieces from Roman times and other special artefacts. Currently they are working to make the collection available in a digital format, with the first phase of this project going live in 2023.
I last visited the collection near the Grosvenor Centre several years ago and visited again this month to talk to the managers and have another look at some of their impressive collection. The collection are seeking support to help preserve and display their unique collection and I am working with them to try to assist.
The collection are hoping to move to a more suitable location which they feel is vital in ensuring the preservation of the irreplaceable artifacts and craftwork for future generations.
The museum relies on independent support for funding so do feel free to donate via the “Support Us” page on their website (www.museumofleathercraft.org).