The history of leather in Bideford and North Devon:
The manufacture of leather using oak and the production of various leather goods became one of England’s most significant and vital industries during the 19th c beginning its decline middle of the 20th c. The craft is now regrettably a critically endangered process.
The earliest accounts of tanning practices in Barnstaple come from archaeological evidence unearthed during digs of the 1970’s, which revealed leather buckets and remnants of apparel from that era. These findings suggest that, well before the Norman conquest, leather was a fundamental mainstay of life on the isles and mainland well before the Norman invasion the subsequent supplication of people by trade name, in the Doomsday Book.
It is worth noting that originally not all leather was tanned using oak bark; many different types of barks and oils were utilised to produce a variety of unique finishes. Although Bideford and the surrounding area were extensively exploited for their vast quantities of oak, which during the industrial period and eventualuy decimated in the name of progress, they became major producers and exporters of oak bark as well as other leathers like chamois.
These materials were crucial for various segments of the leather industry, both at home in England and abroad. Notably, the demand for leather surged as a necessary commodity during periods of colonization and conflict, with the heightened requirement for quality rawhide to wrap ship sail blocks to protect them from harsh elements. The need for harnesses and high-quality, durable leather goods was undeniably essential during these times.
Tanning is just one aspect of a rich and diverse story; primarily, the process involves creating a useable and lasting form of leather through the utilization of various barks and oils. We have to begin with the hunter, who provides pelts, and the abattoir, which offers what was termed the “Fifth Quarter,” where hides are included. This is where “Pelts and Skins” are sold to the fellmonger, who is responsible for producing clean rawhide, bated and soured, and ready for use by the tanner.
The next critical step involves the currier, who undertakes the important tasks of dyeing, skiving, softening, and finishing the hide using a variety of essential natural oils and waxes. It is at this crucial point that the multifaceted leather master craftspeople of antiquity—such as tailors, clovers, milliners, shoemakers, harness makers, saddlers, and others—would enter the scene, bringing their art and expertise to the craft.
The polyphenols extracted from oak and many other tree barks were pivotal to this tanning process, as they make leather enduringly tough and resilient; these compounds generically known as “Tannins” saturate the hide, ensuring its lasting durability and versatility.
