John Dick Leather Goods
Home of The Lochgelly Tawse / School Belt
The Lochgelly Tawse is currently made by Margaret Dick at the John Dick Leather Goods workshop just outside Lochgelly and has been created by members of the family spanning three generations. Today, Margaret Dick is the third generation in her family to make the Tawse and follows in the footsteps of her Father John. J.Dick and Grandfather George.W. Dick but ‘The Lochgelly Tawse’ goes right back to the late 1800’s and starts with my Grandfather’s Master Saddler Robert Philp. Read more about the History…
How The Tawse Was Traditionally Made:
Follow the steps of how the Tawse was traditionally made.
It all starts with a buffalo butt!
Getting the leather, to the size we need
The ranger helps make a straight and clean cut
This template has been in use since the 50s
Using a draw point to mark the edges for cutting
The moon shaped knife is my weapon of choice
It is not the tawse if it doesn’t have tails
Can’t have the children bleeding on their jotters
Helps preserve the leather and keeps it smooth
Nearly done
Even implements of torture need to be beautiful
We have stamps dating back to the late 1800s
Another complete tawse to add to the pile