Monument record 1601 - Oakley Bank

An important pottery manufacturing site until circa 1830.

{1} Morton refers to post medieval pottery production at Oakley Bank in Plumpton, describing the wares made.

{2} It is interesting to note that Oakley Bank is marked as a village on the map that accompanies Morton's book, and that Plumpton is not shown at all. It appears to be an outlying settlement of Plumpton, probably with medieval origins. Morton suggests that Oakley Bank is the most important pottery, except for Potterspury, in the area. He describes in detail the different types of 'potters' earth' found in a clay pit at Oakley Bank and the vessels that could be made from each. Morton also writes that at this time the local potteries were becoming very much threatened by Staffordshire and Derbyshire pottery.

{3} Yellow clay at a depth of 1ft 6in: very fine and tough clay, very free from stones and sand. Of this are made mugs and other drinking pots, dishes and all the thinner and finer sort of ware. It will not endure the weather. Below this is a shorter, mellower and more friable clay. Of this are made their flower pots, panshions, cloughs to salt meat in and the coarser sorts of ware. A soft marly clay lies beneath and of this is made a still coarser and grosser type of ware, viz tiles and ordinary garden pots. The latter are very durable pots but these cannot be glazed due to hard inclusions in the soil.

{4} Oakley Bank is a place of potters in the liberty of Plumpton.

{5} There was formerly an extensive pottery industry at Oakley Bank. Suggests that production had ceased by the 1830s.

{6} Farm with several associated structures.

<1> TULL G.K., 1966, The Potteries of Potterspury, p.10-14 (part checked) (Article). SNN47221.

<2> Browning J., 2000, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for New Stock Buildings at Oakley Bank Farm, Plumpton, Northamptonshire, p.3-5 (part checked) (Report). SNN102247.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.72 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.231 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<5> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.95 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1883, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (55.07), (part checked) (Map). SNN15004.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2022 11:13AM