Fulham Pottery

Fulham Pottery, 2016
Bottle with the Arms of Scotland in stamped medallion, initials "C.R.", for Charles II of England, c. 1675–76

The Fulham Pottery was founded in Fulham, London, by John Dwight in 1672, at the junction of New King's Road and Burlington Road, Fulham, not far from Putney Bridge.[1] Dwight is the earliest clearly documented maker of stoneware in England,[2] although immigrant Dutch or German potters were probably active several decades before. By 1690 there was a rival stoneware operation in Fulham, run by the Dutch Elers brothers, who after a few years went off to become important early figures in transforming the Staffordshire pottery industry.[3]

In its first years it was a pioneering force in English pottery in several respects, in particular salt-glazed wares[4] and figures.[5] After Dwight's death in 1703 the pottery made less ambitious stonewares until a revival in the later 19th century. It operated on the same site until 1956,[6] and then until at least the 1980s as a base for studio pottery to be fired. Today, all that remains of the original pottery is one large bottle kiln, "probably 19th-century", which is now a Grade II listed building.[7]

  1. ^ Bergesen, 71; 23 pieces at the Museum of London, see individual notes
  2. ^ Bergesen, 71; MoL
  3. ^ V&A page, "Teapot" by the Elers; Elliot, throughout
  4. ^ Elliot, 23, 27–28 (conclusion), and preceding
  5. ^ Wood, 84, & the V&A pages on their examples
  6. ^ Wood, 84; Bergesen, 71
  7. ^ Historic England. "Bottle Kiln at Fulham Pottery (1079795)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2016.