It is thought the site could have been used for tanning since Roman times, being situated beside the Stour. The site was used until c.2000 and contained a series of processing buildings and stores, some probably dating to the late 18th century. Site now being converted to accommodation or for building.

A watching brief carried out at the site in 2002 revealed evidence for tannery pits and refuse. This included 1.1m of ash and hardcore associated with the Tannery in one area of the site and a pitched pine timber representing the base of a tan pit at another point of the site. (3)

Jim Preston Personal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE13236.

Jim Preston Personal Communication (Verbal communication). Ske13236.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2002, St Mildred's Tannery, Stour Street, Canterbury: Second Archaeological Watching Brief on Geo-Technical Augering (Unpublished document). SKE56084.