Cowhides and motorcars

Abstract

The proposed development at Beaverbank Place, Canonmills, Edinburgh led to the excavation of theremains of the 19th-century Beaverbank Tannery. Accompanying historical research allowed the history ofthe ownership and tenancies of the buildings and various businesses to be traced from 1807 to 1959. Thisincluded the early 19th-century Clark’s Mill linen bleachers and the 1868 tannery built by the Johnstonfamily and later leased by family firms of the Pringles and Walkers. A period of abandonment between1913 and 1915 was followed by the repurposing of the building as a sawmill and cooperage. Part of thesite changed again to become a motor garage in 1928. The remains can be matched well with historic map evidence and appear to relate predominantly to thelate 19th-century tannery structures. Remains were found of approximately 100 tanning pits set out in a gridpattern, with further features related to drainage, paving and other structures. Very little environmental orartefactual evidence was recovered to shed light on specific practices, materials used or materials produced. There were also scant structural remains that could be related to the earlier linen bleachers and to thelater motor garage.