It is thought that Tanners Mosque was built in the 14th century by the Jacobites, as a small church dedicated to St Kathrena. They were certainly using it in the 15th century. In Ottoman times, it was used as a mosque by the leather tanners, who worked nearby, thus it became known as the Tanners' mosque or Tabakhane Mosque. As the tanning industry declined in Famagusta, the Tanners Mosque gradually fell into disuse. The mosque can be found close to the north west corner of Famagusta and is marked on some maps as being inside a restricted military area. This is not correct, and has not been for some time, although the barbed wire and "no photography" signs are still in place. The area, however, has been taken over by a school, so access is still restricted to a certain extent.