Monument record MDO6196 - Verwood Pottery kiln site at Eastworth, Verwood

Pottery kiln, part of the Verwood Potteries, located at Eastworth Farm. Little is known about the site, but it is thought it was operated by the Sims family during the 18th century. There is the possibility that during the 1750s it may have been operated by William Henning. In 1979 members of the Verwood and District Potteries Trust reported that they were unable to identify the site of the kiln mound. Excavations on part of the site in 1994 located large amounts of 18th century pottery wasters.

SU 08340967 NGR sited from Authority 1 fig 18 <4> and OS 1:10560 1970 <1>

East Worth Kiln 2 <4> or Young's Site 12 <2>. A pottery kiln located at Eastworth Farm. Little is known about the site, but it is thought it was operated by the Sims family during the 18th century. There is the possibility that during the 1750s it may have been operated by William Henning. <2, 4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey map 1:10,560, 1970 (Map). SDO18658.

<2> Young, D, 1979, The Verwood Potteries: Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 103-120 (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 12.

<3> Algar D, Light A and Trehane P, 1979, The Verwood & District Potteries (Monograph). SDO12592.

<4> Algar D, Light A and Copland-Griffiths, P, 1987, The Verwood & District Potteries. A Dorset Industry, 29, Fig 18 (Monograph). SDO12825.

<5> 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.

<6> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1989, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1988, 29-35 (Serial). SDO88.

<7> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1996, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1995, 141 (Serial). SDO95.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1030465 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 15 2024 3:04PM