KILNHURST POTTERY. 
47 
Kilnhurst Pottery is splendidly situated as regards its position, 
being in the centre of the South Yorkshire coalfield, and adjoining 
Thrybergh Colliery with which it is connected by sidings, and 
having eight other large collieries within a radius of four miles. 
It is built close to the canal on which it has a wharf, and the 
Midland Railway Co’s, main line, and the Great Central Railway 
Co. run on either side of it. 
Kilnhurst possesses a fine series of models, collected from the 
“Rockingham,” “Don," and “Mexborough” Potteries. Several 
examples of these have been reproduced from the original moulds, 
such as jugs, teapots, and cheese stands, and exhibit beautifully 
modelled work, especially those from the “ Don ” Pottery. 
During the time the works have been in Mr. Bowman Heald’s 
possession, several new features have been adopted in the mode of 
manufacture. The printing is now done by machinery on roller 
engravings, in place of the old system by flat copper plates, one 
machine turning out work equal to six men. Also the grinding of 
glaze and other materials has been economized by the introduction 
of Alsing’s rotatory grinding cylinders, a great improvement on 
the old fixed pan grinding system. 
John Twigg, so long connected with this pottery, deserves more 
than a passing notice. He was a decidedly eccentric personality, 
and was the dominating figure during the whole time he was 
associated with the history of the village and works. He was a 
keen, shrewd business man, and quite an institution in Kilnhurst. 
He was a rigid teetotaler and non-smoker, although he owned a 
public house (the Nag’s Head) which was within two hundred 
yards of his residence. Many amusing stories are related of him 
by the old inhabitants. 
Another pottery not mentioned by Jewitt was established in 
Kilnhurst about the beginning of the 19th century. The manu¬ 
factured goods consisted of coarse brown ware made from native 
clay, it was not an extensive affair, and was closed in i860, the 
last to work it being a potter of the name of Bedford. It lay 
between Swinton and Mr. Heald's pottery. The square of cottages 
which now cover the site is called “ Pottery Yard.” 
