Locksmith's House

About the museum

The Locksmith's House at 54 New Road is typical of the small family-run lock-making businesses that once defined Willenhall. Locks were also made in Wolverhampton and Walsall, but the concentration of skills and home workshops in Willenhall gave the town its reputation as the lock-making centre of Britain. Even in the early 1900s, when the trade was moving to larger factories, backyard firms like this one survived.

The house dates from 1840, and its rooms are shown as they would have looked in 1905, using much of the original furniture and belongings of the Hodson family. New Road was both home and workplace for the Hodsons, who rented the workshops for a time before buying the whole property in 1904. The firm of Richard Hodson and Sons, which claimed to go back to 1792, was then owned by John Hodson. After his death his son Edgar continued the business, making bar padlocks and lighter locks and later stamping out spanners and supplying parts for oven doors.

The house opened to the public in 1987 and is now a sister site of the Black Country Living Museum. Volunteers look after it, so it is not open for regular admission; visitors come on special ticketed events, such as a festive evening with forge demonstrations, and school groups can book educational visits.

Highlights

• Edwardian house with interiors set out as in 1905
• Original furniture and belongings of the Hodson family
• Lock-making workshops with forge demonstrations on event days
• Historic lock displays
• Visits only on special ticketed events

Permanent exhibitions

• Edwardian house as in 1905 – The rooms of the lock-maker's family home, furnished with much of the Hodson family's original furniture and belongings.
• Lock-making workshops – The workshops of the family firm, with historic lock displays and forge demonstrations on event days.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Black Country Living Museum

Admission & discounts

There is no regular admission price. Tickets are sold for each special event through the Black Country Living Museum website.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The Christmas event includes crafts and carol singing; the ghost stories may be more suitable for visitors aged 10 and over.

Getting there & parking

The house is at 54 New Road in Willenhall and is a separate site from the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

Amenities & dining

Seasonal refreshments, including a hot drink, were part of the Christmas event.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit