15 South End, Tan House, Bassingbourn

History of Tan House

Listed Building:

House. Late C17 with C18 and C19 alterations. Red brick with burnt headers, timber-frame plastered and exposed.

According to Valory Hurst, CALH Review  no.33 (2025) Tan House was probably built for Francis and Susan Docwra who set up the tannery at The Tanyard circa 1616. They died in 1626 leaving their sons Thomas, 22, and Jasper, 19.

1674 the house had seven hearths and was the second largest in the village.

1698 will of Francis, Jasper’s son shows extent of tannery business. Francis’s son, Thomas, 33, was living at Tan House and running the business. His son, Abel, 27 was left three substantial properties and some money along with land.

1709 Thomas died and business passed to his brother Abel.

1715 an apprentice, Edward Medbury employed.

1732 Abel’s son Thomas took over the business.

1746 Stephen Adams bought the business from Thomas Docwra for £623. Thomas’s son continued to work at the tannery..

1748 Abel Clark Docwra, Thomas Docwra’s nephew, became apprentice to Stephen Adams. Stephen Adams owned the tannery at Bassingbourn and one in Bermondsey, one of the centres of tanning in the country.

1759 Bassingbourn tannery leased to Daniel Green with Stepehen Cole as manager.

1768 Stephen Adams left ownership to his son, Stephen.

1781 fire took hold of John Waller’s farm next to the tannery. Damage was estimated at £800 and Waller was not insured.

1792 Stephen Adams bankrupt. The tannery was never operated as such again.

1821 Tannery was owned now by the Lilley family of Cambridge.