| Summary : Pottery kiln (Site 5) part of the Donyatt Pottery industry, identified on the south side of Shave Lane at Pottery Garages. The site was owned by Edward Dinham in 1838 who was one of the last traditional Donyatt potters. The site in 1838 comprised a house, garden, orchard, pottery and kiln. By 1890 the site was owned by the Arlidges, potters from Staffordshire, and known as the Donyatt Pottery. The Arlidges used improved glazes and larger, efficient and reliable kiln designs than those used locally. The pottery was working at full capacity in 1912 when there were three kilns in production. Kiln 1 was an updraught kiln with four flues, constructed of stone with a brick lining. This was the earliest Arlidges' kilns but was not used after 1914. Kiln 2 was an updraught bottle kiln constructed in 1900. It was built of brick and bounded with iron. Kiln 3 was a large down draught kiln, built in 1925 of brick bound with iron. It was 10 feet in diameter and had a 60 foot high chimney. The kiln was demolished in 1940. The pottery's main products were flower pots, seed pans and salters. Production had ceased by the end of World War II. Part of the site was excavated in 1972. The only feature to be located was a drainage ditch containing pottery wasters dated to 1800-50, representing the remains of the Dinham's pottery industry. A series of waster heaps, ash and kiln debris dating to 1900-39 provided evidence for the later phases of the Donyatt Pottery. |