Rhayader Tannery at St Fagans

The late 18th century tannery complex at Rhayader, in Powys, was the last traditional tannery to work in Wales; it specialised in producing heavy leather for boots and horse harness.

Oak bark was the main ingredient used, being stored and ground into powder in the large barn using an iron overshot waterwheel. The raw hides were soaked in an increasingly strong bark solution in the pits before being scrubbed on the stone table. They were then dried and rolled flat. The whole process took eighteen months.

The complete complex was moved to the Museum in 1962 and was opened to the public in 1968.

The water wheel has recently been repaired (2006/7) and reinstated.