Site of Horn Works

1 Kenilworth was a centre of the horn comb industry. A gentleman, who at one time owned the tannery in Warwick Road, stated that he remembered seeing the remains of a (horn) factory only a few yards S of the tannery. This was in about the year 1912. He saw four ovens, in pairs back to back. At working height was a round hole that at one time was covered by oven doors. Inside, the roof was arched and the chimney served all four ovens. Horn was obtained from the tannery and put in a ‘muck-heap’for a while to permit the bone to come away from the horn. The oven was heated and the horn put in place in order to make it supple. Eventually the horn was split open by hand and was then ready for cutting into shape.
2 A number of brick footings and other features were encountered in the northwestern part of a development site at Talisman Square. This building was constructed at some period between 1905 and 1925. It is possible that these structures represent elements of the former tannery, but they may also relate to the 20th century horn works (MWA 3245), known to have existed to the south of the tannery.