Fellmonger

{{Short description|Persons who removes animal hair or deals in hides or skins}}

File:A Worker in a Fellmonger's Yard by W H Pyne, 1805.jpg

A fellmonger was a dealer in hides or skins, particularly sheepskins, who might also prepare skins for tanning. The name is derived from the Old English ‘fell’ meaning skins and ‘monger’ meaning dealer. Fellmongery is one of the oldest professions in the world and since ancient times, humans have used the skins of animals to clothe themselves, and for making domestic articles.{{cite journal|url=http://www.sealedknot.org/knowbase/docs/0039_LivHistChar.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050222085350/http://www.sealedknot.org/knowbase/docs/0039_LivHistChar.htm|title=Developing a Living History Character|last=Dorrington|first=Eric|publisher=The Sealed Knot Ltd|journal=Orders of the Day|volume=32|issue=1|date=January–February 2000|archivedate=22 February 2005|accessdate=1 March 2010}}

Historically, fellmongers belonged to a guild or company which had its own rules and by-laws to regulate the quality of the skins, workmanship, treatment of apprentices and trading rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.fellmongers.org.uk/history_heritage.html|title=Fellmongers Company - History and Heritage|publisher=The Company of Fellmongers of Richmond, Yorkshire|accessdate=1 March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304000513/http://www.fellmongers.org.uk/history_heritage.html|archivedate=4 March 2012}}