Locksmith’s House

Unlocking History.....

The Locksmith's House celebrates the efforts of the small family run lock making businesses which thrived over a century ago. Working from the back yards of their own houses, hundreds of small family businesses evolved. A visit to The Locksmith's House will demonstrate how such a business operated alongside family life.

The house is recreated with the actual belongings and furniture of the Hodson family of lock makers, the last inhabitants of 54 New Road, Willenhall. The working class family home is accompanied in the back yard by a two-storey workshop building. A working forge and machinery adds to the atmosphere. Our lock display gallery offers an insight into some extraordinary locks from across the ages.

Our costumed guides will be happy to escort you around the property, and hands-on activities such as making a rag rug or toasting on the kitchen range can be arranged for your group.

Visiting the Locksmith's House

The Locksmith's house is not open every day, visits are by appointment and must be pre-booked by calling 0121 520 8054

54 New Road
Willenhall
West Midlands
WV13 2DA

Bookings c/o The Black Country Living Museum
Tipton Road, Dudley DY1 4SQ
tel: 0121 520 8054

BY ROAD: The Locksmith's House is located in Willenhall, near Walsall in the West Midlands, under 3 miles from Junction 10 of the M6. It is found on the B4464 in Willenhall, on New Road (off Somerford Place).

USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus services run from Walsall and around the Black Country.There is a bus stop right outside the Museum. Please contact your local bus station for up to date details.

The nearest train station is Walsall, about 5 miles from the Museum.

The nearest metro station is Bilston, about 3 miles from the Locksmith's House.

PARKING: A short stay (2 hours) parking can be found in the nearby public car park on Wolverhampton Street 3 minutes walk from the Museum. Come out of the Wolverhampton Street car park and turn right, then go left into Peel Street, then turn right into New Road – the Museum is about 50 yards down on the right.

Map of location of Locksmith's House

Educational Visits

The Locksmith's House provides a secure, confined domestic environment particularly appropriate as a venue for school groups to use. Costumed demonstrators create an opportunity for students to experience the living and working conditions of the Hodsons, a typical lock making family in Willenhall at the turn of the twentieth century. In addition to the original period displays and hands-on activities, exhibits include an interesting and unusual collection of locks and keys providing inspiration for design and technology projects and for understanding mechanisms and levers.

Please download the information pack to help plan a visit.

To make a booking to bring a school party to The Locksmith's House call on 0121 520 8054

Bookings,  The Locksmith's House,  c/o The Black Country Living Museum
Tipton Road, Dudley DY1 4SQ
tel: 0121 520 8054

We are able to take bookings from school parties on most weekdays during term time. The cost is only £5.00 per student (minimum booking fee £75.00) with no charge for accompanying adults.