Local Industries
Sheepskin
A
tannery was established in 1915 by Mr. E. B. Chapman, in an 18th century
building that is on the site of an old corn mill. He made white tanned 'Horse,
Donkey and Cow hides for the whip thong makers of Birmingham and Walsall.
Later, two more sons joined the business Mr. E. C. Chapman and Mr. A. Chapman, and a partnership was made with the title of E. B. Chapman & Sons.
Horse slaughtering was commenced which gave a supply of hides and skins for tanning. The calfskins were made into Vellum for the drums of the orchestras and Brass bands.
Hairy skins were also tanned, such as Calf, Deer, Goat, Fox, Badger, Dog, Cat, etc. Woolly sheep skins were dressed and dyed for rugs.
Drying skins in 1934
Sheepskins are first washed and any surplus fat removed before being steeped in a vat of tanning liquor. The skins are then dried and stretched on metal frames before being degreased.
In 1945 the business was reorganised. The hide tanning was discontinued as most of the whip thong makers and saddlers had gone out of business. Mr. E. B. Chapman retired, Mr. E. C. Chapman and Mr. A. Chapman took over the horse slaughtering, and the tanning went over to dressing woolled sheepskins for rugs with the new title of E. B. & W. R. Chapman. Vellum was discontinued, but the tanning of hairy skins was made into a speciality.
The old cornmill
Over the years it has been highly mechanised and became one of the best equipped firms of its kind in the country. Mr. W. R. Chapman retired and his son Mr. James Chapman took over. The premises were modernised and a shop opened for purchase of sheepskin rugs, coats, hats, gloves and slippers. The Sheepskin Shop complex used three floors of the old mill and the twin water wheels are still in position.
The Sheepskin Shop in the 1980s
An advertising flyer from the 1980s