Burg Street

The Tanners of Burgstraße – At the Heart of Leather Production in Lippstadt
Burgstraße is located right on the banks of the Lippe River. In the 19th century, tanners were based here. Over time, the street went by various names, such as Müllenweg, Wallstraße, and Wall. A section of it was known as Schabekuhle, named after the tanners who lived there.

Daily Life in the Tannery
The buildings on Burgstraße were located right on the Lippe River. This was ideal for the tanners. Because of the strong odor, the tanners were relocated here. They could easily wash the hides in the Lippe after tanning them.

The End of a Tradition
A tanner’s life was hard and dangerous. Working with corrosive chemicals and the smell of leather defined their daily lives. With industrialization and the development of new materials, traditional tanning lost its importance. The saying, “One’s hides are floating away,” originates from the tannery. The tanners of Lippstadt tied their hides together with chains so they wouldn’t float away and their work wouldn’t be in vain.

Take a stroll down Burgstraße and let yourself be enchanted by the history of the tanners.