Monument record MDO6195 - Verwood Pottery kiln and pottery works site at Burrows Farm, Verwood

A pottery kiln and works used for the manufacture of Verwood Pottery. This kiln is thought to have been used during the 18th century. In 1979 members of the Verwood and District Potteries Trust reported that the kiln mound survived but has since been destroyed. Little is known about the history of the kiln but it is thought the kiln was operated by the Sims family during the 18th century. There is also the possibility that William Henning may have operated it during the 1750s.

(SU 08771030) Burrow's Farm. Disused pottery kiln (NAT). <1>

East Worth Kiln 1 <6> or Young's Site 10 <3>: A pottery kiln located at Burrows Farm, the kiln mound has been recently destroyed. Little is known about the history of the site but it is thought the kiln was operated by the Sims family during the 18th century. There is also the possibility that William Henning may have operated it during the 1750s. <3, 6>

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1972 (Map). SWX1197.

<2> Trehane, P, and Young, D, 1977, The Pottery Industry of East Dorset. A Proposal for Site Scheduling (Unpublished document). SDO16403.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1981, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1979, 103-120 (Serial). SDO79.

<4> Algar D, Light A and Trehane P, 1979, The Verwood & District Potteries (Monograph). SDO12592.

<5> Young, D, 1979, The Verwood Potteries: Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO13877.

'There have been potters at Eastworth, now part of Verwood, possibly since the 1620s, and certainly from the late 1600s when Thomas Sims worked here. Sims died in 1701 but his family continued the business until at least 1780 when his descendant and namesake, also a potter, made his will. There are still Sims living at Eastworth Farm, although whether they are directly related to Thomas is not known. As recently as 1935 the farm included a kiln and other pottery buildings. Another family of potters named Foreman appears in the Clay Rentals along with the Gibbs family from 1663, but neither are confirmed as resident in Eastworth before 1695. The will of Henry Foreman, potter of Eastworth, which was made on 13th November, 1728, is the last known record of this family.' Young's site 10.

<6> Algar D, Light A and Copland-Griffiths, P, 1987, The Verwood & District Potteries. A Dorset Industry, 29, Fig 18 (Monograph). SDO12825.

<7> Spoerry, P, 1988, Documentary and other evidence for medieval and post-medieval ceramic production in Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 33 (Article in serial). SWX809.

‘37. Verwood. Verwood became the centre of a rural pottery industry which had its origins in the 14th century, but which was most active in this particular parish in the 18th and 19th centuries. Pottery associated names exist in the parish, however, from the 13th century onwards (Mills 1980, 257). Members of the Verwood and District Potteries Trust have located twelve kiln sites in the parish to date (Young 1979, Algar et al. 1987), grid references for which can be seen below. Kilns 1 and 2 were probably in operation by the 1660s, and others may have existed by this date as well. These early sites are in East Worth, rather than Verwood proper which is about one mile to the south. The larger, later industry can be seen as ‘little more than a southward extension of the activity at East Worth’ (Algar et al. 1987, 31). The last kiln ceased operating in 1952. Kiln 8 is located at Potterne Farm. This place-name is of medieval origin (Mills 1980, 257) and is the only suggestion of pre-17th century ceramic manufacture in this particular parish. Substantial earthworks are present here, probably relating to post-medieval pottery production, however, some remains of medieval activity may also be present. Location of kiln sites in Verwood Parish. 1. SU087103’

<8> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1989, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1988, 29-35 (Serial). SDO88.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 890354 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 15 2024 3:04PM