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.
BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
Re: BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
Neckinger Mills, where the photograph was taken. We are looking at the lime yard full of pits about seven feet deep.
Last edited by kiwi on Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
Neckinger Leather Mill,Bermondsey (1936)-from lime pits to finishing shop.
Re: BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
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.
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.
Last edited by kiwi on Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
Last edited by kiwi on Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
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
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Still had loads of fun because more often than not an elder security guard (watchman) would chase us off the premises!!!
Fantastic memorable days
Re: BEVINGTONS & SON, NECKINGER MILL.
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.
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