Ancient pit found on housing site
An historic tanning pit used by shoemakers hundreds of years ago has been discovered at a Bridge of Allan housing development.
The stone structure was dug up by archaeologists investigating land at Blawlowan, behind the University of Stirling’s Pathfoot Building, last summer.
Cala are currently building seven new homes on the Pathfoot Loan site but, prior to construction getting underway, archaeologists were given the chance to explore beneath the surface.
And after hours of hard work they discovered the remains of what appeared to be dividing walls and a cobbled area – both of which matched detail of a small village from a 1865 Ordnance Survey map.
A semi-circular stone feature, with a clay lining was also found. After work from historian Craig Mair, they discovered that this was an original tanning pit – with small leather offcuts and a metal scraper still present.
Ian McLaren, secretary of the Dr Welsh Trust heritage group in Bridge of Allan, explained that shoemakers would come from all over central Scotland to use the pit.
He said: “Shoemakers would bury the hides of cattle in such pits, covering them in oak wood cuttings – and even urine as the acidic content would rot off the hair over time.
“The remaining hair was then scraped off to leave the leather ready for the production of footwear.”
Ian added: “The exposed feature was a reminder of how the former inhabitants of the small clachan had prepared the raw material of their trade – leather.
“The new housing is almost complete and this echo of its former occupants is re-buried under the new foundations.
“While it was sad to see Blawlowan’s idyllic setting go, it was encouraging to find physical evidence to confirm the research which showed this corner of Bridge of Allan was once home to a thriving community of tradesmen and their families.”