Monument record 2887/62/0 - Park Tannery, Park Street, Congleton

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Tannery marked on the Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire Maps.

<2> Archaeological Research Services Ltd, 2020, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of North Rode Timber, Kinsey Street, Congleton, Cheshire, R4496 (Client Report). SCH9000.

An archaeological desk‐based assessment was produced in 2020 in support of a proposed development the area of which includes the site of Park Tannery. A site visit was undertaken as part of the assessment, however, because of the extent of overburden, stored materials and modern warehousing, the only surviving structural remains relating to the tannery that could be identified was an area of potentially original, cobbled flooring at the entrance.

By the 17th century, numerous leather traders operated out of Congleton including tanners, glovers and shoe makers. The expanding leather industry is depicted in the poll tax of 1660 where 40 of the 75 trades listed were in the leather industry. In the 18th century Congleton became a prominent textile-manufacturing town, with silk being the dominant industry.

Park Tannery is first labelled on the 1875 OS map, however, the 1845 Tithe Map also depicts a building at this location, although the details of use/ownership of the land is not recorded within the Tithe Award. Later OS maps (1899, 1909, 1911 and 1938) omit the name 'Park Tannery' despite all showing a similar layout of buildings as the 1875 OS map. This may suggest that the Tannery had shut down by 1899.