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BorderwareNotesQueries

Page history last edited by Peter Tipton 15 years ago

Borderware Notes and Queries

 

Note dated 26 Mar 2009

QB10: Identifying the potters who had worked the kilns excavated during construction of the M3 motorway.

During a recent lunchbreak discussion at the HRO between the NEHHAS documentary research team and Peter Tipton, Sarah Fry remarked that she did not know why the kiln site found during excavations preceeding M3 construction was normally referred to as the 'M3 site' or 'Minley Road' when it should be known as Outsheet Farm.  This prompted Peter Tipton to see if he could identify the potters who had worked in this late C16th to mid C17th pottery.

From Lesley Bull, Hampshire Genealogical Society, 6 Aug 2008

QB9: Location of a potter's property called 'Reynolds' in Cove

I have been contacted by a member who is researching the history of the Cranham family. He has sent me a copy of the will of a Cove potter, James Cranham which was written on 2 Dec 1796. His main bequest (to his wife Ann) is his property in Cove "called or known by the name of Reynolds". Our member wants to know the location of this property.

I have contacted Arthur Lunn, the Cove local historian and he has referred me to you. I attach a transcription of the will which I assume is reference 1808A/022 in the Hampshire Record Office. 

QB9A1: Initial answer from Peter Tipton


From Michael Brian Readhead, 9 Feb 2008 

QB8: I am researching a probate inventory at The National Archives which relates to Thomas Gonner, who ran the Hermitage Pothouse at Wapping c.1640-1670.

It seems certain that the Gonners originated at Frimley, in particular as Ralph Gonner the younger brother who may have been making delftware at Thames Ditton, where he was definitely a potter, was married at Frimley. The name is frequently spelt Gunner, and the muster lists use both spellings fairly indiscriminately.

 Thomas and Ralph's father was Richard Gonner of Shepperton, but he may well have been born at Frimley. I wonder if you might know of other members of this family who were potters in that area, since it would be very interesting to establish a link between the Frimley area and the main London delftware industry. 

QB8A1: Initial answer from Peter Tipton

QB7A2: More Gunners from Mary Bennett


From David Barker, Addlestone Historical Society 15 Jan 2008:

QB7: Is it likely that the Borderware pottery made in Chertsey in the early 17th century was connected with the known tilemaking and brickmaking industry?

 

Jacqui Pearce has confirmed that finds at Victory Park (Addlestone) include Rhenish style pottery as well as framents of glazed stove tile. Until ca. 1914 the Roake/Roke family operated a brickmaking business at Hatch farm, very close to Victory Park. There was a Richard Roke in Horsell (WSFHS:1585-1603 Subsidies). I was delighted to see that Horsell also had a Thomas Theyer at the the same time. I am sure that this is a German name and also crops up in the Frimley lay subsidy for the same period. I assume there may well be a connection between these men and the Farnborough Thayer of 1625. So much information seems to be pulling the trade North West. However given the size and demand at the time it was to be expected they would be found here, but who were they? We know that in 1604 "Warde" of Chertsey was producing green and yellow tiles, delivered at the kiln, for the building of Ashley House, Walton on Thames. Given the price and description these must have been glazed. Many other tile and brickmakers are known in the area, perhaps a more global search of the clay working trades would produce more leads and connections between them and the potters. 

QB7A1: Chertsey Tilemakers & a Potter

QB7A2: Were members of the Thayer family German Potters?

QB7A3: Who was Warde of Chertsey, tileman?


From Peter Tipton, The Yateley Society Nov 2006:

QB6 Cove Potteries and Clay Pits

Arthur Lunn's book Our Hampshire Cove mentions Hill House Pottery in Cove (page 9), with some pictures of pottery on pages 14 and 15. Were there any other potteries in Cove around 1900? Who was working them when they closed? Mr Lunn also mentions the clay-pits on Cove Common. I assume all these yielded red clay and were used up for making earthenware, bricks and tiles. The name Claycart Bridge (page 61) is also intriguing me. Was this the name of a bridge over the Basingstoke Canal? If it was then it implies that clay carts were still moving from Farnham to Cove, and perhaps Farnborough, after the construction of the canal. PJT Nov 2006 

QB6A1: Reply from Arthur E Lunn


From Richard Johnston, The Yateley Society 8 Sep 2006

QB5 What is the difference between a potter and a cupmaker?

Most of the people associated with the borderware trade are called potters but John Barum (and perhaps William Geale of Yateley and Richard White of Pirbright) is described as a cupmaker. Is cupmaker a description of a pottery merchant? Or describe someone doing a particular part of the process (such as adding handles)? Or did cup manufacture involve a different manufacturing process from wheel made pots, using moulding or pressing methods of some sort? Unlike throwing pots, such methods can use semi-skilled or unskilled child labour. Moulding methods might need wooden patterns, and probably used plaster for moulds. But before speculating further, what do the cups themselves reveal about their method of manufacture? RHJ All the Border ware pots were wheel thrown. RHJ 22.5.2007


From Jacqui Pearce, Specialist in medieval and later pottery, and clay tobacco pipes, Museum of London Specialist Services Aug 2006

QB4 (was Q10). 16th century connections with London potters

Something dramatic happens to the Farnborough potteries in the mid to late 16th century and I think we have German and London influence very clearly. Whether or not potters from London moved into the (Border Ware production) area is another question. Is it possible that there may be some records that will throw light on this? 

QB4A1: A Lambeth Potter with land in Farnborough


QB3 (was Q9). John Smith, Potter of Frimley

In Richard Shegog’s article on the Borderware Industry, under the heading 'A Potter’s biography' he mentions John Smith, the son of William Smith and the likelihood of him being the John Smith, Potter of Frimley. Is this true? 

A1. John Smith


From Peter Tipton, The Yateley Society Aug 2006

QB2 (was Q8). Borderware distribution from 1500 to 1700

In his excellent article on Borderware on this website, Richard Shegog poses some questions about Borderware, which remain unanswered. A further unknown is how the market for Borderware was organised in the period 1500 to 1700, and who organised it. Later, in the 19th century, the William Smith 'biography' leads to the conclusion that the potters themselves found their own buyers and arranged transport to market. At the peak of its importance when Borderware supplied half the London market, it is possible that other middlemen were involved in the distribution process. Richard Johnston raises this question again in a recent answer to the previous question. 

A1. Borderware Distribution

A2. Local Merchants & Gentry


From Jacqui Pearce, Specialist in medieval and later pottery, and clay tobacco pipes Museum of London Specialist Services Aug 2006

QB1 (was Q7). Documentary references to potters and potteries on the Hampshire/Surrey borders

I am preparing for publication the 1968-72 excavations at Farnborough Hill, carried out by Felix Holling. The project is now in its final stages and I am pursuing documentary references to potting in the Blackwater Valley. Obviously, Elizabeth Lewis' excellent 1991 paper has been most helpful. I wondered whether further work has been carried out as part of the Yateley History Project that might be relevant, particularly to Farnborough and Cove, and particularly relating to the 16th century, as well as the 17th century. I understand that some experimental work was carried out on clays from the Bracklesham Beds by Don Ridgers. Is it possible to find out more about these and to include references to them in the Farnborough Hill publication? I understand that there is also a reasonably up-to-date list of sites with finds or references to potting (compiled by Don Ridgers again) and again wondered whether it would be possible to access and refer to this? 

QB1A1: Don Ridgers' Lecture Notes

QB1A2: German Potters in Hampshire

QB1A3: List of Farnborough Wills in HRO to 1620


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