For two centuries, the town of Walsall, now a part of Greater Birmingham, in the United Kingdom, has been the undisputed capital of leather working and saddlery. According to Michael Glasson, author of Walsall Leather Industry, Walsall, in its heyday, had over 100 saddleries, employing around 7000 people. Even now, some 70 saddleries still exist.
Walsall – Decline of the Saddlery IndustryUp until the 19th Century, horsepower made the world go round and army contracts for saddles and harness made up a large part of Walsall’s business.
The introduction of the motor car and, subsequent motorisation of army transport, scuppered the industry. There is a fascinating record of the changing industry response to this enormous historical change in the trade journal Saddlery and Harness, which was first published by T.Kirby and Sons of Walsall in 1891. The Saddlery Museum, Walsall preserves a 6-volume set of these historic magazines in its library.