The Museum of Leathercraft occupies the second floor of a building in Northampton and charts the craft that shaped the town’s industrial identity for centuries. The collection explores the techniques, tools and products that made Northampton a global centre of leather manufacture, from shoe-making to saddlery and fine leather goods. Visitors discover how local craftspeople refined their skills across generations and how the industry transformed the town’s economy and landscape.
The museum is part of Northampton’s museums service and sits within easy reach of the town centre. Its exhibitions reflect the enduring importance of leather work to the region and provide insight into the working lives of the people who built the town’s reputation. The collection draws on artefacts, photographs and documents held in the wider Northampton museums collection, offering both casual visitors and those with specialist interest a chance to understand how leather production operated at every scale, from small workshops to large factories.