The chainmaker hard at work
Throughout the Museum working demonstrations take place from time to time in some of the many workshops and small factories. The most regular is the chainmaker who can be seen almost every day plying his trade in the chain shop at the side of the rolling mill, behind the bakery. The Black Country was world famous for the production of chains of all sizes and much of it produced entirely by hand on small forges such as the ones you can see. Adjacent to the chain shop is the blacksmith's shop with a powered hammer where various tools and pieces of equipment or even wrought ironwork are produced from time to time.
At the end of the cobbled street you may find the nail maker working in his forge. Hand made nails were sent all over the world from the Black Country but today most of the Museum's production is used in the repair of its narrowboats.
At the rear of the back to back properties you can find the brass foundry or 'tub shop'. So called because the foundry boxes were filled with sand from the tub beneath the window. This small foundry would cast horse brasses, machinery parts and harness fittings, so typical of those produced in Walsall from where the foundry was moved.
Working demonstrations are not restricted to metal working and in the bakery you will find bread being made and at the rear of the general store the glass-cutter will create intricate patterns on glass of all types and sizes.