South West Regional Development Agency

• The South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) acquired the Morlands site in March 2001.
• The 12.5 hectare (31 acres) site is the largest derelict industrial site in Somerset.
• Mendip District Council owns 9 acres of adjacent land.
• Morlands is adjacent to the A39 equal distance between the towns of Glastonbury and Street.
• Derelict for fifteen years, Morlands was once described by the Duke of Edinburgh as "the worst eyesore in Britain."
• The site previously housed the Morlands and Bailys tanneries that closed down in 1982 and 1992 respectively. Tanning was a very important industry in Somerset until its decline in the 1970s due to sheepskin going out of fashion.
• The site comprises 34,000 square metres of buildings (in various stages of dereliction).
• Some parts of the site are of archaeological and historical
• significance. The remains of St Bridget's Chapel (a scheduled ancient monument) lie to the West of the sewage treatment works although there is nothing visible above ground.
• There is also historical interest surrounding the millstream.
• The stream was used to power corn mills and a fulling mill. The remains of the fulling mill are in the foundations of the listed mill cottage at the Southern end of the site.

To ensure that you have the most up to date information about the site please email: morlands@southwestrda.org.uk or tel: 0117 933 0200