See article on Northampton tanneries in last _Post-medieval Archaeology_ vol. 30 (1996) by Mike Shaw. This is really the seminal work on the industry to date and covers very extensive excavations of early-modern tanning yards in Northampton- still famed for its shoe and learther industry.This also has references to other British and Dutch sites and working tanneries in N. Africa. Mike also did a short article int he US popular journal _Archaeology_ a few years baack though I haven't the patience to find my offprint under mounds of books. Mike is now with Cheshire county council after many years working in Northampton.. paul courtney, leicester