See important
guidance on the use of this record.
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
HER Number: | MDV123609 |
---|
Name: | Torquay Terra Cotta Works, Hele, Torquay |
---|
Summary
Terra Cotta Pottery works in production 1875-1945.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 906 662 |
---|
Map Sheet: | SX96NW |
---|
Admin Area | Torbay |
---|
Civil Parish | Torbay |
---|
District | Torbay |
---|
Ecclesiastical Parish | ST.MARYCHURCH |
---|
Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- POTTERY WORKS (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Full description
Torbay HER record (SMR record). SDV361984.
The Torquay Terra Cotta Works was established in Hele by 1875; one of two established using a local red and reddish-brown, fine, micaceous consolidated sandy-clay or mudstone. [1]
The company remained in production until 1905, producing nearly identical terra cotta wares - large numbers of figures and busts - to those of the Watcombe Terra Cotta Works (SX96NW/43). Up until c. 1885 the wares were in a classical style, afterwards there was a change to elaborately painted vases and plaques. [2]
The first building was a long, single-storey workshop to which another building was added in 1876; at the north end of the site was a bottle kiln and a muffle kiln. After the 1905 closure the works were modernised and re-opened in 1908; the original bottle kiln being replaced by two large ones, and the box kiln refurbished. Again it produced glazed popular wares with a variety of decorations similar to those of Watcombe and Longpark. There was a gradual deterioration of quality in the 20C. The works closed early in 2nd World War; the workshops and kilns remained derelict until mid 1960s when they were demolished [3]. The Torquay Terra Cotta Works is recorded on the third edition OS as the Torquay Pottery.
A sequence of pottery, flints and human bones were found during the excavation of the clay deposits and were collected by William Pengelly (SX96NW/46/1). The base of a (?) barn was revealed beneath which was a well constructed road surface 3m wide, 30cms thick. The human bones were found in conjunction with ox, horse, goat, dog and deer. Also found were flint fragments and grey, wheel-made pottery. [4]
"torquay terra cotta works" on os 6" (1891) map (os). os sheet 116 sw(1933 revision)in smr shown as works on 1968 os map.
<1> Phillips, J., 1881, Transactions of the Devonshire Association, p.216 (Article in Serial). SDV362622.
X
<2> Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, 1976, South Devon Pottery (Pamphlet). SDV362619.
X
<3> Lloyd Thomas, D. & E., 1978, The Old Torquay Potteries, p.81-106 (Monograph). SDV362620.
X
<4> Dowie, H.G., 1927-30, Transactions of the Torquay Natural History Society, p.243-44 (Article in Serial). SDV362612.
X
Sources / Further Reading
SDV361984 | SMR record: Torbay HER record. |
|
| |
SDV362622 | Article in Serial: Phillips, J.. 1881. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. . 13. p.216. |
|
| |
SDV362619 | Pamphlet: Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. 1976. South Devon Pottery. |
|
| |
SDV362620 | Monograph: Lloyd Thomas, D. & E.. 1978. The Old Torquay Potteries. . p.81-106. |
|
| |
SDV362612 | Article in Serial: Dowie, H.G.. 1927-30. Transactions of the Torquay Natural History Society. . V. p.243-44. |
|
| |
Associated Monuments
MDV124013 | Parent of: Torquay Terra Cotta Works, Hele, Torquay (Find Spot) |
MDV124104 | Related to: Hele Cross, Hele Road, Torquay (Find Spot) |
MDV15401 | Related to: POTTERY WORKS in the Parish of (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
Date Last Edited: | Jun 3 2021 3:28PM |
---|
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.