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25
Oct 2021
Major archaeological discovery at Ripon's Fountains Abbey
The largest tannery ever discovered at a monastic site in Britain has been identified at Fountains Abbey.
Tanning was a vital part of the abbey economy. Animal hides would be de-haired and cured to make leather for purposes such as clothing, belts, bedding, book bindings and to make vellum or parchment for reproducing religious texts by the monastic scribes.
The find, made using ground penetrating radar, backed up with other geophysical survey methods, underlines the fact that Fountains was a hive of industry up to its dissolution in 1539.
It had always been a puzzle what a long ‘bowling alley’ type extension of the east side of the abbey precinct, close to the River Skell, could have been used for.
Investigations carried out in partnership with the National Trust, which owns the site, by the University of Bradford, Mala UK, Geoscan Research and Magnitude Surveys, found previously unknown monastic buildings filling the whole width of the valley floor of the World Heritage Site.
The find reveals two substantial stone buildings, 16 metres wide, one of them at least 32m long and more than a single storey in height, with lined pits, tanks and other structures around them.
These, along with the proximity to the river for water – a key requirement in the tanning process – has led to the conclusion that this was the tannery serving the community of Fountains Abbey.
Mark Newman, National Trust archaeologist explained:
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Mr Newman added that the abbey's wealth:
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