!05 
WOODLESFORD POTTERY. 
I have, unfortunately, not been able to ascertain when this 
pottery was first started. It was working in 1845 under the firm 
of Gibson and Shackleton. Then Benjamin Taylor had it, and 
the last proprietors were Messrs. Hewitt and Jenkinson. 
It closed down as an eathenware pottery in 1891, but was 
worked as a fine art pottery for two or three years later. 
There were three kilns, but only common household ware, such 
as pots, dinner services, etc., were made. No marks were used, 
except the names of the patterns on the back of some of the pieces, 
such as “ Willow,” “ Eton College,” etc. 
We have a sauce-boat of this ware, for which, along with the 
information given above, I am indebted to Mr. Benjamin Walker, 
of 10 Church Street, Woodlesford, who worked at the pottery for 
about thirty years, starting in 1857, at the age of fourteen. 
WOODNAM HOUSE POTTERY, 
Situated at Elland, and also known as Blackley Pottery, was 
changed into a black ware from a fine ware pottery between i860 
and 1870 by Titus Kitson, whose father, Joseph Kitson, was a 
potter previously just above Woodnam House Pottery. Then he, 
Joseph Kitson, removed, and commenced at Ainley Top Pottery, 
about 1839. This was closed down about 1886. These Kitsons 
have been established as potters since 1820. 
Woodnam House Pottery was worked as a fine ware pottery in 
the 18th century by a Mr. Cartledge, and a piece of this ware is 
now in the possession of Mr. Titus Kitson, junr., dated 1734. We 
also have a crude jug of this ware dated 1719, standing on three 
very short legs, brown glaze, decorated with light yellow slip, 
also a much later photograph frame with the inscription : 
THINK OF ME. Woodnam House Pottery was closed in 
1907. 
YEARSLEY POTTERY. 
At Yearsley, near Coxwold, there was a pottery in early times, 
which is especially interesting, because one branch of the Wedg¬ 
woods of Staffordshire settled there at an early date. There is in 
the museum attached to the Abbey at Ampleforth a large cistern, 
