In some occupations, most notably tanners and clothiers, those with goods worth over £50 or £60 are the typical representatives of that trade.
The micro, small and medium producers are not well represented in this association, which is composed of large and mechanised firms and tanners.
In either case, the tanner's basic raw material was available locally or within thirty to fifty kilometres.
Of those rising in status four - grocer's, miller's, maltster's and pattenmaker's daughters - all married gentlemen, and a tanner's daughter married an esquire.
Unlike the production of woollen cloth, all the processes involved in heavy leathermaking were carried out on the tanner's own premises, with his own servants' labour.
Though the basic equipment for tanning hides was not costly, certainly under £10 or £15 in the 1560s and 1570s, a tanner required a substantial circulating capital.
The hide is the first link and, at the same time, its quality is essential to the tanners.
The prices charged to the tanners for warbled hides are lower than those for clear hides.