Educational and Group 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.
The centrally-heated Education Room provides dedicated facilities for school parties to safely store coats, bags etc. and eat packed lunches. As a souvenir of their visit students can purchase postcards, stationery and town trail guides.
BOOKING AN EDUCATIONAL VISIT
Please download the following information pack to help plan a visit.
Downloadable Schools Information & Bookings Pack (1555kb)
contents:
- The Locksmith's House as a venue for schools
- Key Stage 1 & 2 Curriculum links
- Planning your visit
- Plan of the Museum
- Historical information for teachers
- Risk assessment information
- How to find us
- How to book and booking form
To make a booking to bring a school party to The Locksmith's House, please telephone at least 2 weeks before to advise us of your intended visit and proposed study themes on 01902 634542 or 0121 521 5693
Once you have made your provisional booking, please complete the booking form (available in the downloadable pack) and return it to:
Bookings,
The Locksmith's House,
54 New Road, Willenhall,
West Midlands,
WV13 2DA
Subject to availability you may book to bring a school party on any weekday. In order that the students gain the maximum value for their visit we advise that the group be comprised of no more than 50 students.
The admission fee is £4.75 per student, with a MINIMUM charge of £100 being made for an educational visit. There is no charge for accompanying adults, and we recommend a ratio of 1 adult to 10 students.
We encourage teachers to visit The Locksmith's House in preparation for a later school visit for which we make no charge. The Locksmith's House is open to the general public Wednesday and Saturdays 12-4pm.
A typical day visit to The Locksmith's House begins at 10.15am, finishing at approx 2.15pm. The ground floor of the Museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users, and arrangements can be made to view items from other areas of the site.
It would be helpful if you could divide the students into two equal groups before arrival.
Please note cheques should be made payable to The Black Country Museum Trust Ltd.
GROUP VISITS
We are able to open specially to pre-booked parties on days other than Wednesday and Saturday. We charge a minimum of £80 for this service, which provides your group with exclusive use of the venue, a guided tour of the house by our costumed guides, and your group may also opt to sample hands-on activities like podging a rag-rug, key-filing, helping to forge a bar padlock and toasting at the range. This means that small groups of up to 21 people will pay a flat rate of £75. For larger groups it will cost you £80 plus £4 for each additional person above 21 persons.
To book a group visit please contact 01902 634542.
Check with the News & Events so that you don't miss our special activities or displays.