Medaieval Tannery, Colyton, Devon - April 09

Further on down the lane from the Currier, I came across the buldings where the leather process begins. My photos really don't do the place justice and it has got to be seen...and heard...to be believed! It was total magic!

I had difficulty knowing where to place this one as it's rural, industrial, has derelict buildings and also a live, working site. Both the buildings and the working process are traditional, but it hasn't been tarted up like a heritage centre and is pretty much how it would have been during Medaieval times. I wandered around taking photos of as much as I could. I would have asked permission to go in further but everytime I spotted someone they were out of one door and into another with a wave and a cheery hello. I guess they're used to people just wandering in and having a mooch!

Unashamedly filched from their website...

"J & FJ Baker is Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery... ...Devon river water, oak from renewable sources, and time dedicated to slow tanning preserve the natural weave of the fibres in each hide resulting in unique hardwearing luxury...
Hamlyns Colyton has been a tannery since Roman times. Rebuilt over the centuries, the current buildings are set among orchards, fields of grazing horses, and the gentle rolling hills of rural Devon countryside..."

http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/

Weigh bridge and old site office.



The louvres on the top storeys control and facilitate air circulation for the drying process.













The raw hides are soaked in lime. This loosens the hair and opens the pores, and While still wet the remaining hair is scraped off.















More coming up in a mo.

Anyone remember the music from Windy Miller? Well, imagine that without the music but with the sound of a running stream and that's what I heard as I headed into the site. And this is the reason why...still powered by water.



The mill race seen from a window by the wheel mechanism.



Sorry about the bad quality pic, but you can just about see one of the wheels behind the right hand mesh. This is connected to the shaft at the right of the pic.



The other end of the shaft, just about seen at the right.



The stream runs beneath the arch on the left. The sound of that and the clanking of metal on wood was truly delightful.



The hides are then hung in weak tanning solution in `handler pits', where they are agitated by a mechanism of reciprocating wooden arms driven from beams and shafts in the roof, powered by the waterwheel. The waterwheel also drives a grinder which strips bark from oak branches. After several months, the hides are moved to deep `layer pits' to soak in strong oak bark liquor for nine months. Hand tools are used for setting and staining after the hides have dried and are then dressed with the traditional fish oils and mutton tallow.







I don't know what these particular machines are used for, but part of the process uses a `bend roller', which is an iron reversing mechanism with a pulley belt. This drives a curved polished roller back and forth across the hide under pressure to produce soling leather.





The site is beautifully higgledy-piggledy with walkways between the various buildings, several of which have winch housings on the top storeys.













I really hope you enjoyed that. It was a fabulous explore and I shall be going back again. Whilst there I saw what looked like another mill further up the river and found several other cool things to take pics of...but I'd run out of film, so more visits to the town are definitely on the cards.

Thats a very comprehensive and well thought out report Foxy well done. I have seen this process on television and it was a pretty digusting and smelly job! I could almost smell the hides from here!

You've been busy Foxy! Really nice shots there, and interesting stuff.

This is one of my favourite threads Foxy, looks like nothings changed in a hundred years, proper old industry.

Looks like it would make a great museum.

Phil

Black Shuck said:

I have seen this process on television and it was a pretty digusting and smelly job! I could almost smell the hides from here!

Click to expand...

I did get a whiff by the layer pits but there weren't any hides in there so it wasn't too bad. Yes, I saw the process on TV once...I think it was part of a time-teamy type of programme. Cheers, Shuck.

channonwindmill said:

You've been busy Foxy! Really nice shots there, and interesting stuff.

Click to expand...

Thanks, channon. It was a good afternoon's explore and I would have continued with some other places but I ran out of film! Will be going back though.

shatters said:

This is one of my favourite threads Foxy, looks like nothings changed in a hundred years, proper old industry.l

Click to expand...

Cheers, Phil. Oddly enough, I felt as if I was in a Dutch Medaieval village! Fantastic place!

All I can say is WOW! This place looks awesome!

WE MUST GO THERE!!!!

Love the pics! You are seriously such a gifted photographer. The angles in these shots are brilliant!

That's a pretty impressive site! Good pics there

Lovely photographs. Looks an interesting explore.

Interesting stuff

Oh, heck. Now I've got to find an excuse to go and visit. Your descriptions are just as tantalizing as your pics.

Thankyou very much for your comments, guys.

Kat, you're very kind. There's lots of room for improvement with my pics but I'm really glad you like them. Yes, the town is definitely on the list of places to see when you and evilbill come over to visit. There are so many hidden gems there...I keep finding cool stuff every time I visit.

There's still a tannery in Stockport, I've never been there but I'm guessing it's a bit more mechanised that this one.

When I was young I assumed leather was made from the skins of mostly bald animals like hippos, rhinos & elephants. A friend had some crinkley grey leather gloves which helps renforce this view.

great find FL. Looks like a set for a Hammer Horror film. Bet it's spooky as **** at night.

Richard Davies said:

A friend had some crinkley grey leather gloves which helps renforce this view.

Click to expand...

Eeeeuuuuwwww! That sounds scary!

borntobemild said:

great find FL. Looks like a set for a Hammer Horror film. Bet it's spooky as **** at night.

Click to expand...

Now there's an idea! There's loads of places in the area that I'd love to see at night, but the buses don't run then and I'll be buggered if I'll walk those roads that late! I'm definitely thinking about it though!

nice photos well captured very informative post looks like a great find

What a stunning find Foxy. You've done well. I'm assuming that you were granted some sort of permission to have a wander? If so, it's refreshing to know that a building Owner was cool about you taking pics -somewhat of a rarity these over-the-top "I've stubbed me toe so I'll sue ya for $1,000,000" health and safety days, in me own experience.

Great pics, great history -thanks for sharing ol' Gal!

Lightbuoy said:

...I'm assuming that you were granted some sort of permission to have a wander?

Click to expand...

No, I just wandered in and mooched about. I saw the odd person but they just smiled, waved and disappeared again...even one guy who looked like he might be the boss said hello as he came out of one door and went into another. I would've asked permission but no-one asked me what I was doing there so I just carried on!
Cheers, Lb.

Thanks for your comments, Hoot. It was a totally unexpected find that's vying for first place in my favourite explores. I didn't spend nearly as much time there as I'd have liked, mind. I had 2 1/2 films left and used them in a very short space of time...there's still a lot more to see and I'll give them a ring before I go back and see if I can get a tour inside.

Excellant shots

Really good stuff here Foxy,and you have certainly got your lighting sussed with those inside shots...you are Devon`s Foxy Talbot.

Stu

Lol for the Foxy Talbot title.
Thanks for your really nice comments Stu...much appreciated.