Though there is little appearance of that necessary article in
Birmingham, yet it was once a famous market for leather. Digbeth not
only abounded with tanners, but large numbers of hides arrived weekly
for sale, and here the whole country found a supply. When the weather
would allow, they were ranged in columns in the High-street, and at
other times deposited in the leather-hall, at the east end of
New-street, appropriated for their reception. This market was of great
antiquity, perhaps not less than seven hundred years, and continued till
the beginning of the eighteenth century. Two officers are still annually
chosen, who are named leather sealers, from a power given them by
ancient charter to mark the vendible hides; but now the leather sealers
have no duty, but that of taking an elegant dinner. Shops are erected
on tan-vats, the leather-hall is gone to destruction, and in 1781 there
was only one solitary tanner in Birmingham.