Collection theme: Locks and Safes

The Locksmith’s House collections include the house and workshops of 54 New Road, Willenhall. The house is recreated with the furniture and belongings of the Hodson family of lock makers, the last inhabitants of the site. This working class family home is accompanied by a two-storey workshop in the backyard, including a fly press, working forge and other machinery.

A range of locks and safes are displayed at the Locksmith’s House, with examples of products manufactured when Willenhall flourished as the lock making capital of the country. Significant collections of locks, safes and lock making tools are cared for at the Black Country Living Museum site, along with archives relating to R. Hodson & Son and other local lock makers.

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