Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The tannery of Mestual, located in Landivisiau, Brittany, has its origins in a first written mention dating from 1542, although most of the current buildings date back to the second half of the 19th century. The tanning activity on this site is, however, attested as early as 1730, with a production centered around the skin treatment. The installations were gradually developed by local families, including the Abgralls in the 18th century, then Jean Rannou from 1750, before being taken over by the Jaffres family in 1840. The most recent part, a glue and gelatin plant, was added in 1872, illustrating the technological evolution of the period.

The site includes a tan mill converted into a home, dryers capable of accommodating up to 350 skins, as well as remnants of past industrial activities. These elements, associated with courses, stables and agricultural areas (potager, orchard), form a coherent set inscribed in the Historical Monuments since 1995. The accuracy of the installations and their state of conservation offer a rare testimony of the leather industry in Brittany, marked by family transmission and constant adaptation to economic needs.

The listing of Historic Monuments in 1995 covers the entire site, including buildings, vestiges of tannery and glue factory, as well as associated areas (courtyards, stables, orchards). This protection underscores the heritage value of a place where pre-industrial history (XVIIIth century) and industrial revolution (18th century), with a geographically well-documented location (Mestual Street, Landivisiau).

External links