Wearside pottery : a 20th-century potworks in Sunderland

Miller, IF

Abstract

This article summarises the findings from a recent archaeological excavation of the former Wearside Pottery in Sunderland, which provided a valuable opportunity to study the buried remains of a 20th-century potworks. Sunderland has a rich heritage of producing a range of wares for the home and export markets, although the town’s numerous potworks became particularly well known for their pink lustrewares. All of these potworks have since been demolished, and the lack of surviving physical remains is in stark contrast to the former importance of the local industry. Established in 1913, the Wearside Pottery was the last potworks to be built in the town, and its ultimate closure in 1957 marked the end of Sunderland’s long tradition of producing pottery. The excavation exposed the foundations of the principal manufacturing areas, including the base of a coal-fired bottle kiln, and enabled the process-flow through at least part of the site to be established. A review of the available documentary material, coupled with the archaeological evidence, has also allowed several stages in the development of the potworks to be identified.

Citation

Miller, I. (2014). Wearside pottery : a 20th-century potworks in Sunderland. Industrial Archaeology Review, 36(1), 24-31. https://doi.org/10.1179/0309072814Z.00000000027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jul 15, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Aug 14, 2019
• Journal: Industrial Archaeology Review
• Print ISSN: 0309-0728
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-8196
• Publisher: Routledge
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 24-31
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/0309072814Z.00000000027
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1179/0309072814Z.00000000027
• Related Public URLs: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/yiar20/current
• Additional Information: Funders : St Modwen Ltd