Monument record MDO5410 - Pottery works, including a pottery kiln, Crendell (Site 1), Alderholt

Site of a former pottery kiln, part of the Verwood Potteries, in production during the late 17th century and operated by Edward Kibby. The pottery works had a number of owners which included Lawrence Chubb (1710-1754), Henry West (1754-1807), James Thorne from 1807 until the late 1850s, and James Shearing from the late 1850s until 1880.

(SU 08961297 NGR sited from Authority 1 fig 15 <5> and OS 1:10560 <2>)

Alderholt kiln 1: A pottery kiln, possibly in production during the late 17th century by Edward Kibby. The pottery works was part of the Verwood Potteries and had a number of owners which included Lawrence Chubb (1710-1754), Henry West (1754-1807), James Thorne from 1807 until the late 1850s, and from the late 1850s until 1880 by James Shearing. <5>

Alderholt (Crendell) Site 1. Site of a former pottery kiln known from documentary sources. The site was enclosed from the waste of Daggons in the seventeenth century and it is possible that Edward Kibby and his son William may have been potting here during the second half of the seventeenth century. It was in possession of Laurence Chubb, potter, before 1710. After his death six years later his widow Margaret continued as a tenant with her sons Laurence and Edmund running the kiln until 1754, when the holding was granted to Henry West. He died in 1798 and left his business to his son Henry who had previously been working in Daggons (3 001 023). On Henry’s death in 1807, James Thorn took over the tenancy and worked here until the late 1850s, when he was succeeded by James Shearing who carried on until at least 1880. <4-5>

The kiln is shown on the Ordnance Survey 25-inch map epoch 1 (1887), where it is marked as 'Old Pottery Kiln'. The kiln and kiln mound is shown with a small shed to the west and a well to the northwest. <1>

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey map 1:10,560, 1963 (Map). SDO18658.

Date surmised from other kilns in the immediate area which appear to reference the same map but give the date of the map.

<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> Algar D, Light A and Copland-Griffiths, P, 1987, The Verwood & District Potteries. A Dorset Industry, 23-4 (Monograph). SDO12825.

<6> 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, 29 (Article in serial). SWX809.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1030415 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2022 3:20PM