The remains of a historical tannery have been unearthed on the New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building site. The remains of 12 brick tanning pits were found under the old Cadbury buildings and excavated by a team of archaeologists from New Zealand Heritage Properties.
This is part of a larger tanning pit complex that belonged to the Coombes & Son Tannery who began their operations on site in 1872. In 1875 the tannery was destroyed by fire and a new brick tannery built in the same year.
The brick pits discovered relate to this 1875 building and were constructed with an internal drainage system. Timber plugs were set into timber boards connected to the drains that sat beneath the walls of the pits. These timber plugs stopped any chemicals from seeping out during the tanning process.
Several other archaeological remains have also been discovered. These are largely related to the Scottish brothers Alexander and Thomas Burt foundry, with earthworks exposing nineteenth century furnace remains, paved surfaces, pits, and building foundations.
The team continues their work excavating archaeological features associated with the McLeod Brothers Soap and Candle manufacturers, who occupied the section immediately adjacent to Coombes and Son Tannery.