BermondseyBoy

Neckinger Mills, formerly Bevington & Sons Leather Mills, Abbey Street was one of the most famous tanneries in Bermondsey producing light leathers for shoes and fancy goods. The tanning pits were located beside the River Neckinger. It was said that the fish oil used in the tanning process did wonders for the hair and skin of the (largely female) leather workers. The mills opened in 1801 and continued production until 1981; since then the building has been converted into offices and studios.

Neckinger Mills, where the photograph was taken. We are looking at the lime yard full of pits about seven feet deep.

Neckinger Leather Mill,Bermondsey (1936)-from lime pits to finishing shop.

Bevingtons Mill 1931

Bevington & Sons, Neckinger Mills, Abbey Street.
Two men and two younger boys are shown at work splitting the sheep skins for skiver and chamois leather, outside the factory building. A pile of skins lies in the foreground. Bevington & Sons Leather Manufactory was established in 1795. c1885.

Bevington Leather Mill c 1885

Back in the 70's on our back home from school we would pass Bevingtons on Abbey Street and we would dare each other to go up to the lime pits via the side entrance and look into them! We knew that the factory produced leather but in our child's minds we thought that cows were put into the pits that contained sulphuric acid that somehow produced the leather! Like I said, child's minds
Still had loads of fun because more often than not an elder security guard (watchman) would chase us off the premises!!!

Fantastic memorable days

Women skiving the leather at Neckinger Mills, Bermondsey for Bevington and Sons, 1931. The firm were the largest and most famous tannery in the area. Skiving leather (the process of making it pliable and softer) would be done by hand and the work was labour intensive.