Record Details

Summary

An industrial period pottery at Sheffield Manor. The kiln was built into the remains of Wolsey Tower

Monument Type(s):

• POTTERY WORKS (Post 1708 - c.1738, Post Medieval to Industrial - 1540 AD to 1914 AD)

Associated Finds:

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument 1004817: Manor Lodge

Full Description

<1> A pottery was built at Sheffield Manor in the early eighteenth century. Brown mottled glazed earthenware was made.

<2> The Duke of Norfolk leased the site of [Sheffield Manor] piecemeal to tenant farmers, craftsmen and labourers. One of these was John Fox, the remains of whose kiln and workshops have been found in the ruins of Wolsey Tower. [Back-up file - PIN 00251]

<5,6> The pottery kiln was first discovered in 1971 as part of the Museum of Sheffield excavations. This was a structure of seven flues built into the northern tower of the former hunting lodge.

<3> Evidence from excavations in the south range of the former Manor Lodge in 2009 showed that the pottery was unusual compared to other contemporary potteries since it focused on one ware type, Mottled ware (sometime know as Manor ware). Evidence of manufacturing in the form of wasters, saggars and stone coated in glaze was recovered.

<4> Excavations in the Inner Court North of Manor Lodge in 2010 revealed additional information about the pottery's workshops and the processes carried out there.The former open loggia of the Long Gallery was infilled and a new room was appended to its east. Within this new structure, a small brick-built open hearth furnace was constructed. Splashes of glaze on nearby stonework suggest this room was used to manufacture glazes. The ground floor of the former Long Gallery itself is likely to have provided space for drying ceramics prior to firing and for storing the fired pots. The kiln itself, located in Wolsey's Tower nearby, is thought to have been fueled by coal and a series of coal pits identified within the former courtyard are dated to this 18th century phase of activity.

<1> Lawrence, H., 1974, Yorkshire Pots and Potteries., p140 (Monograph). SSY122.

<2> South Yorkshire Industrial History Society, 1997, Manor Castle Colliery Coke Ovens (Unpublished document). SSY1574.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2010, Manor Lodge, Sheffield: Interim Report on the 2009 Excavation (Grey Literature Report). SSY1988.

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, Manor Lodge, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The Long Gallery and Inner Court Excavations and Building Recording (Grey Literature Report). SSY2441.

<5> Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, 2011, Excavations at Sheffield Manor Lodge 1968-80 (Monograph). SSY3261.

<6> University of Sheffield, 2010, Sheffield Museum Excavations 1971 (Unpublished document). SSY3263.

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