Monument record MDO6197 - Crossroads Pottery, Verwood

A pottery kiln and pottery works used for the manufacture of Verwood Pottery. This kiln was used during the 19th and 20th centuries, going out of use in 1952. The kiln has been demolished but the pottery manufacturing building and a storage shed survive.

(SU 08620906: NGR located from Authority <4>, fig 18 and OS 1:10560)

The Cross Roads Kiln, listed as Verwood kiln 3 <4> or Site 1 <1>, is a 19th century pottery kiln. The pottery works were part of the Verwood Potteries and operated by a number of people including Roger Shearing in 1847, the Ferrett family during the late 19th century and Frederick Fry from c.1910 until 1925 when it ceased production. In 1927 the kiln was reopened and operated by Horace Thorne who engaged the services of Mesheck Sims, one of the best known Verwood potters. During this period there was a diversification away from the traditional wares with the introduction of new lines which included perfume bricks, flower baskets, candlesticks and bedroom sets. There was also an attempt to introduce a new line of high quality pottery in 1948-50 when Gertude Gilham, a potter from Poole, was employed. She created a new and distinctive range of wares but left after 18 month due to a dispute with the Thornes. The pottery finally closed in 1952. Few features including the pottery manufacturing building and a storage shed survive, the kiln has been demolished.

During the late 19th century the pottery had its own clay pits situated immediately north of the pottery. This supply was later replaced by a tile making yard situated within the village and in the mid 20th century from a brickyard at Corfe Mullen. <1, 4>

<1> Keen, L, 1979, 'Dorset Archaeology in 1979' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 103-120 (Article in serial). SDO9647.

<2> Algar D, Light A and Trehane P, 1979, The Verwood & District Potteries (Monograph). SDO12592.

<3> Young, D, 1979, The Verwood Potteries: Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO13877.

<4> Algar D, Light A and Copland-Griffiths, P, 1987, The Verwood & District Potteries. A Dorset Industry, 31 (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> Robinson, S, 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation of a Proposed Car Park at the 'Potters Wheel' Site, Verwood, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO13880.

<8> Urch, T, 2007, An Archaeological Evaluation at April Cottage, Manor Way, Verwood, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO13881.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 890410 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 29 2023 12:00PM