"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...

I thought tanning had to do with urine - that's why tanners were
generally shunned and regarded as rather low class.

Urine was indeed used in curing skins and scouring fleeces and also in
fulling and dyeing yarns and fabrics. I don't think it is any more in
western industrialised countries. Except by purists and historical
re-enactors ;-)

Mary