76 
MEXBOROUGH OLD POTTERY, 
There were two well-known potteries situated here,, and marked 
pieces of the ware from either of them are decidedly rare. 
The first was established at the end of the 18th century by 
Messrs. Sowter and Bromley, who held the works till 1804, when 
they came into the possession of Mr. Peter Barker, the son of 
Joseph Barker who came out of Staffordshire as manager of the 
Swinton works. He became partner with Mr. Wainwright at 
the pot works at Rawmarsh, afterwards Hawley's, and ultimately 
took to the works at Mexborough. These were continued by the 
brothers Peter and Jesse Barker, who were succeeded by Mr. 
Samuel Barker, the son of the latter, until the year 1834, when 
they acquired the Don Pottery. By Samuel Barker the works 
Fig. 72. Oval Dish with Perforations. York Museum Collections. 
were continued until 1844, when they were discontinued, but the 
freehold was retained by the then owners, viz. : the Barker family, 
by whom it was converted into a foundry for the production of 
railway wagon wheels, etc. For many years it was carried on 
under the style of H. and S. Barker Ltd., but eventually was 
closed, and remained so for some years. Part of it in 1910 was 
being used as a foundry on a smaller scale than previously, and 
the other part as a glass bottle works. Very few people are aware 
that a pottery ever existed here, and I am indebted to Mr. 
Bowman Heald for the information. Its position was on the 
