Recently I had a request on the Forum of the website “Did You Know?” inquiring about a shoe factory/shop in Skinner Street. I therefore, approached Mr. Mervyn Hugheston-Roberts, a school friend and contemporary, who has a lifetime experience in the Tannery Business and whose ancestors were proprietors of an Old Tannery in Skinner Street, dating back to the early/mid 19^th century.

The owner at that time was a Mr. David Evans (1807 – 1871). He was a bachelor and as such had no heirs, so he made an offer to his sister’s son, Evan Evans Roberts, that he would teach him the trade so that after his death the business could carry on. He did, however, make one condition and that was for his nephew to drop the surname Roberts  and, from then on, call himself Evan Evans.

Evan Evans, (1832 – 1898) who lived at Bron Eifion, South Road, Caernarfon, became sole owner upon the death of his uncle in 1871. Two years prior to that the Tannery building in the Gardd yr Afon area was demolished to make room for the Railway Tunnel which was built under part of Bridge Street and Y Maes, and ending near St. Helen’s Road, where a joist above the exit can be seen today with the name of the makers “De Winton’s Foundry” and the date 1869 on it. A new Tannery was built near the Seiont Bridge on the Pwllheli Road and called The Seiont Tannery. The remaining building in Skinner Street was then used only as a leather warehouse.

Mr. Evan Evans’ son, Robert Ellis Evans (1866 – 1932), took over the running of the business upon his father’s death alongside his brother David Evans. Robert Ellis Evans’ son Mr. John Hughes Evans, a Caernarfon Solicitor inherited the business in 1932. He, however, appointed his Solicitor’s Clerk, Mr Elvet Jones to manage the business on his behalf. In the early 1970’s the business was sold to a firm called Group 5, Footware Wholesalers.

I would suggest that it is this company that the questioner, Mr. Hywel Williams remembers.

T. Meirion Hughes