179 



®n some j/ragmcuts of lEngligfj (JBartfjtutoarc 

 latclg 43tscoberttr at ^erfcg. 



By L. M Solon. 



HILE digging for the foundations of the new buildings 

 of the Midland Drapery Company, in East 

 Street (formerly Bag Lane), the excavators came 

 unexpectedly upon some fragments of old pottery, which no 

 doubt came to light precisely in the same state as they were 

 when, a couple of centuries ago, they had been thrown away 

 on this spot, as broken and useless shards. The place, in effect, 

 must have been a waste land, where, on the refuse heap, were 

 deposited the litter and rubbish coming from the neighbouring 

 houses. Had it marked the site of an old pot work, the find 

 would have been of another kind ; it should have consisted of 

 numerous fragments of pieces, similar in shape and in colour, 

 such things as the potter has to cast away after an unsuccessful 

 firing ; instead of that, the odd fragments that were found brought 

 together are varied enough to represent, as it were, all the 

 principal types of the different kinds of pottery manufactured at 

 the time. 



In the large field of the Midland counties the potter's craft had 

 developed itself more than in any other part of England ; historical 

 documents, supplemented by the yieldings of numberless excava- 

 tions, testify to the importance that the industry of the pot-maker 

 had attained in these localities, and especially along the valley of 

 the Trent. All over the country could be found, ready at hand, 

 the most available and best sorts of clay, as well as the coals 



