Newsletter - Issue 14

The Tannery At Burraton Coombe

In 1968 Dr. H.J. Hewitt, former Headmaster of Saltash Grammar School, made some notes on the Tannery at Burraton Coombe. He described them as "quite rough and not complete but made while reliable information is still available".

It is desirable to place on record, information about the industries which flourished in the Coombe during the nineteenth century.

No investigation appears to have been done concerning the excavation, crushing and shipping of stone.

Mr. C.W. Nancarrow has kindly afforded information about the tanneries. No documents are available but Mr. Nancarrow is a survivor of the third generation of the family which operated the New Tannery and has lived all his life (except for a period of military service) at Lynher House alongside the high building which stands at the junction of Fairmead Road and the Coombe.

Very little remains of the Old Tannery. It was worked by Mr. Sam Adams who built the New Tannery in 1843. He failed in business. The Nancarrows came from Grampound. Mr. Thomas Nancarrow, Senior, took over Adam's tannery about 1846. His sons, William and Tom Nancarrow continued the business. His grandsons, William and Thomas, also operated the tannery till about 1910. Mr. C.W. Nancarrow is the youngest and only surviving grandson.

The existing lofty building served two purposes:- the storage of bark and the drying of cured hides.

Near at hand there is clay soil. Before concrete was extensively used, cavities could be made fairly watertight by lining with clay. Near at hand also are two streams which join a short distance from the tannery. Eight large cavities (called "pits") measuring 12' x 12' x 12' contained liquor made by steeping crushed oak bark in water. Some thirty smaller pits (many of them under cover) were used for curing hides.

Bark, especially coppice bark, was bought in the Glynn valley, put on rail at Doublebois or Bodmin Road stations and brought to Saltash Goods Station. Bark was also bought at Lopwell and at Sheviock Woods, put in barges and brought to Anthony Passage whence it was carted in wagons (of local farmers such as Dingles and Battens) a ton at a time, under ropes. Boys followed the wagons to pick up pieces which might fall. The bark was "rinded", done up in bundles weighing about half a hundred weight and bound with hazel "beams".

Hides were bought from butchers as far away as Yealmpton, Liskeard and St. Austell and brought by water or by goods train. Hides were cow or horse; later, sheep and calf hides also were used and sometimes pig. When hides could not be quickly put into the pits, they were salted and stacked.

Terrar, a chestnut dye, was obtained in bags. It had to be broken down, dissolved in hot water and placed in the pits to give the leather the desired colour. The hides were first treated with lime. This facilitated the removal of hair by very sharp knives. The hides were put into the pits transferred from pit to pit, the process taking in some instances up to 18 months.

Occasionally sheep skins were cured without removal of wool. The skin was polished. Thus were made fireside and bedroom mats. After curing, hides were dried in the upper part of the high building (which was fitted with weather boards that could be opened or closed according to the weather). The hides were slung over poles. They were then trimmed, polished, rolled, tied up and sent to Bristol, to Blank of Plymouth, to Head or Vosper of Saltash, Blight of Trematon and Walker of Landrake Some pig hides were sent to London; others were used locally for saddles and for leggings.

Hair from the hides was spread, dried and sold to builders for mixing with plaster. Waste bark was used for hot-beds in gardens and also to bank down fires at night. Used liquor was emptied into the stream.

Early in the present century newer methods of curing were introduced in this country. The Burraton Coombe Tannery did not adopt them. Gradually business declined. On returning from military service in 1919, Mr. C.W. Nancarrow decided not to revive the business.

The tanks (pits) have been filled in and now form part of the garden. The large building remains in surprisingly good condition. It has sometimes been used as a storehouse.

H.J.H. - 16th March 1968

'3' Anniversaries

Here are some of the local anniversaries which occured in 1993.

1993 is the fourth centenary of the death of William and Frances Hitchens, commemorated by one of the oldest monuments in St. Stephens Church. They both died in 1593, and their effigies, together with a very moving verse, can be found near the vestry door.

The sundial above the south doorway of the same church dates from 1793 and a hundred years later came the event which was celebrated in 1993 by the Methodists: the first service in the new Burraton Chapel in 1893.
In the same year the Devon and Cornwall Bank and the Post Office jointly took occupation of a new building in Fore Street which later became Lloyd's Bank, as it still is today.

1993 also marked the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the tannery at Burraton Coombe for Samuel Adams, whose initials, with the date 1843, can be seen above the doorway. Adams had previously run a similar enterprise across the road, to the west of Burdock Cottages and for a while tanning continued on both sites. The business was eventually sold to the Nancarrow family.

Also in 1843, the National School at St. Stephens transferred from the church itself to its new home in Church Road.

David Coles

Saltash Heritage, 17 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6JQ --- Tel: 01752 848466 --- Email: info@saltash-heritage.org.uk --- Registered Charity No. 297525