| Description | Hill Top Tannery, Buslingthorpe. Established in the late 1850s by B. and J. Stocks on the site of an 18th century dyeworks and partially re using the earlier buildings which lay to the north and west of the site (these early buildings now 2006 largely demolished). Premises taken over by engineering works in the 1920s. Surviving buildings (constructed third quarter of the 19th century) consist of two multi storey blocks (probably used for finishing and warehousing) contiguous with a single storey shed of double pitch (probably a covered tanyard). The remains of the engine house, boiler house and a drying house survive in poor condition immediately to the west.
Hill Top Tannery is one of only four tanneries in Leeds to survive with the multi storey/covered tannery configuration intact, and the survival of a separate engine house is a considerable rarity WYAAS internal inspection required in the first instance.
In 2006, a desk based assessment was undertaken of Hill Top Works by Under Construction Archaeology, which included a fabric appraisal of surviving buildings, conducted by ARCUS. The site's main historical and archaeological interest is in its use from the 1850s to 1920s as a Leather Works. Prior to this, the western part of the site was occupied by a dyeworks, and the eastern part was used a gardens and was owned by the church.
During the appraisal, eight main phases of construction were identified on site; the earliest two being the sandstone buildings in the north central and north western parts of the site, which were associated (and prehaps pre dated) the dyeworks. The use of the sites as a leather works is represented in the brick built buildings in the eastern part of the site. Alterations, additions and demolitions have significantly truncated or removed features relating to the leather industry. Use of the site for engineering has resulted in the strengthening of many buildings and replacement of wooden floors with concrete. Windows and doors have been blocked or replaced, and roofs replaced. Many of the buildings have been entirely demolished. As such, remains of the leather works are expected to survive as buried features in parts of the site.
For a gazetteer of all the buildings examined during the fabric appraisal please see the final report (Under Construction Archaeology, 2006), a copy of which is on file at West Yorkshire HER. |