Bradford & District | Archive | 2006 | August | 24

Tannery ponds restored

From the archive, first published Thursday 24th Aug 2006.

WILDLIFE should thrive again around the newly-refurbished dams at Embsay Tannery.

Construction workers have spent three months anchoring the dams to earth slopes and a protective layer has been added to ensure they do not leak in the future.

Now, the ponds are filled with water and ducks and other species of wildlife are expected to flock back.

The old tannery is currently being converted into 58 dwellings.

Project manager Mike Wormald, of Burley Developments, explained that one of the planning conditions was to implement a management plan for the woodlands, so artificial nest and roost sites for bats and birds will be provided.

Once known as Primrose Mill, the site was one of the largest industrial complexes in the national park. Tannery use began in 1917 when it was bought and developed by Brooksbank of Bradford. Prior to that, the site had been used for the processing of worsted, cotton and tobacco.