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When pottery making began in Castleford, probably in the early 1700s, they used local clay to make the pottery and local coal to fire the kilns. But when Josiah Wedgwood developed creamware pottery in the 1770s, potters in Castleford followed suit, importing the white clay and flint which were needed to make the popular new cream coloured pottery. The best known pottery in Castleford was that of David Dunderdale & Co. From 1790 he made high quality products similar to those made at the Leeds Pottery. The pottery was intended for export, so the company got into difficulties when pottery could not be exported to the Continent during the Napoleonic Wars. The company failed in 1821. However, this was not the end of pottery making in Castleford, as many smaller potteries replaced Dunderdale & Co. They made cheaper pottery, mainly white earthenwares. Other local companies continued to use local clays to make red coarsewares, such as pancheons for breadmaking. Some companies continued to use local fireclays to make stoneware bottles and ovenware. As many of these potteries did not mark their products, we know about them mainly from their advertisements. The very last company to close was Clokie & Co Ltd, who made domestic pottery as well as supplying institutions. They closed in 1961. Thank you Can you add to the story? Do you want to know more? Hartleys: Brick by Brick – Pot by Pot, by David Wilders, published 2002 The Castleford Pottery 1790-1821, by Diana Edwards Roussel, published by Wakefield Historical Publications, 1982 Yorkshire Pots and Potteries, by Heather Lawrence, published by David & Charles, 1974 |
