Oak bark tanning

[Caballo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-14442109

A family-run tannery in Devon is believed to be Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery still in production.

J & FJ Baker & Co Ltd is based in Colyton, Devon, and has been owned by Andrew Par's family for 150 years - although a tannery is said to have existed in the area since Roman times. Here Mr Par outlines the process used to transform hides to leather.

[Titus Marius Secundus]

That's awesome but also sad. It's like all workmanships these days, factories and machines take there places. Not enough guys like Matt Lukes and metal smiths. All "MADE IN CHINA" ad:
Good luck to them!

Sam

[PhilusEstilius]

Sam.
It is like you say very sad that many of the old skills are not around any more, but one thing that does cheer me up is that there are guys like Matt Lukes and many others who with their skills will keep on with the things that re-enactors want.

I am one of the ones who after more than 30years at re-production now has to retire from it all, but my reasons are from my advanced years and many health problems I am now having.

Anyway your not doing so bad yourself with that sword and scabbard your working on.

[Caballo]

They even have a website....http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/process_a.php

Love the opening lines...."The site has been a tannery since Roman times. The long tanning method has changed little in centuries. The raw hides are soaked in lime where the hair is loosened as the pores open. While still wet the remaining hair is scraped off before the hides are placed in the first of the handler tanning pits. The hides are moved by hand every week for three months into progressively stronger tanning liquors. These liquors are made by soaking oak bark in Devon water to extract the tannins, the same chemicals that give red wine its distinctive flavour."

Hopefully people will buy there and keep it going....

[PhilusEstilius]

They may well supply Lee Prevo here in the UK for every time I've gone there for my leathers these people are very busy suppliers so I imagine they have a steady business going along OK.