What is recorded here

John Stibbs built a walled tannery at St Alban's where bark soaked leather until it was tough enough for straps and shoes. He also planted an orchard and cut a ditch around the work, turning a ordinary farm into a productive estate. Rebels burned the buildings, killed or displaced him, and erased the mark of that labour from the land. The exact spot has vanished, but the loss still stands recorded: a man's hands, a year of work, and a whole neighbourhood's trade reduced to ash.

It is recorded that 'John Stibbs late of St Albanes in the Countie of Longford' was attacked during the 1641 Rebellion and 'was expelled from deprived robbed or otherwise dispoyled of his goods and Chattells to the values hereafter expressed vizt of his tannhowse with leather and Barke therein' (TCD MS 817, fol. 203r). The tannery and its buildings were contained in an enclosure built by Stibbs, who was responsible for the 'fenceing ditching and quicksetting and planting his garden and orchard'; all were burnt during the rebellion (ibid.). The precise location of the tannery has not been identified. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 September 2013

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