At Ditchling, in Sussex, pot-works are said to have existed for “several hundred years.” Be this as it may, some old pot-works for the coarsest brown ware, and bricks and tiles, were bought in 1870 by Messrs. H. Johnson & Co., in the belief that from the superior quality of the native red clay they would be able to produce architectural terra-cotta of a more than ordinarily durable quality. By them the Ditchling Works were much extended, and they have succeeded in making terra-cotta, both useful and ornamental, of an excellent bright red colour, and a fine hard, durable, and almost metallic surface. In this, with careful workmanship, they manufacture well-designed terminals, ridge crestings, crosses, panels, mouldings and all the usual varieties of architectural pottery, as well as moulded bricks, tiles, &c. Among public buildings where the Ditchling terra-cotta has been successfully used is the St. James’s Hall, Piccadilly, and the firm have received medals from the London International Exhibition and the Philadelphia Exhibition. In 1875 Messrs. H. Johnson & Co. opened extensive works on the same vein of clay at Keymer Junction. They are the largest works in Sussex.
Amblecote.
A pottery at this place is mentioned by Plot in 1686.
Leicester.
Spinney Hill Works.—At these works, belonging to Mr. Fielding Moore, garden vases, flower baskets, rustic ornaments, fountains, pedestals, flower-pots, and all the usual variety of terra-cotta goods are made; as are also similar articles in ordinary red and other clays.
Wednesbury.
A potwork existed here in the seventeenth century. Plot, who wrote in 1686, says “of these (i.e. clays from Horsley Heath, &c.) they make divers sorts of vessels at Wednesbury, which they paint with slip, made of a reddish sort of earth gotten at Tipton.”
Winchester.
A famous manufactory of tobacco-pipes existed here in the seventeenth century. Ben Jonson notes that they were the best made in his day.