Animal hides are tanned and curried to preserve them so that they can be used for practical purposes. In pre-industrial times the process was done by tanners using primitive equipment and very basic resources.
tanneryRural tanneries and manufacturers of leather goods survived until well into the twentieth century while there was still a demand for harness and saddlery and other leather goods needed by the community.
Cobblers were also in demand to repair shoes.