Fieldwork

During the summer months there will be opportunities for members to get involved in two projects.
All are welcome to come and help or even only to watch.

Clearance and archaeological investigation of water power features at Otterhead.
These include a waterwheel site, a miniature waterwheel and a hydraulic ram site. Working days are Thursday 24 May, Tuesday 12 June and Thursday 5 July.  Start at 10am. Meet at the Car Park (Grid Reference ST 224141). Bring a packed lunch. Equipment needed is spades, pickaxes and probing rods. Preliminary work will be to excavate small exploratory holes to determine the location of various features.

Restoration and Conservation of the Langport Flood Gates now at Westonzoyland Pumping Station. Dates to be arranged.

If the weather seems doubtful or for further details please contact the Field Officer: Peter Daniel, 29 Barbers Mead, Taunton, TA2 8PY. Telephone : 01823 339368. E-mail :  peter.daniel51@btinternet.com .

The Bridgwater Glasshouse

The talk by Dr. F. Burroughes on glassmaking (see programme) reminded long-standing SIAS members that the Society had contributed to the history of the industry through the excavation of the remains of Bridgwater Glasshouse in the 1970s.

The works was established by the patronage of James Brydges, the First Duke of Chandos in the 1720s as what would now be termed an ‘investment opportunity’, but glass production was short-lived and the site became far more successful as a pottery in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

The following images illustrate some aspects of the SIAS project. They are taken from the Society’s Archive. Text is by the SIAS Archivist, Brian Murless

The layout of the former glasshouse on the Ordnance Survey 1/500 scale map of the 1880s.
Although the cone remained, smaller kilns for firing and glazing ceramic wares had been
introduced. The rail link is to the Great Western Railway’s Wharf & Dock Branch.

The cone, approximately 33 metres in height, dominated the Bridgwater skyline as shown in this Edwardian postcard scene. The subsequent development of housing and a marina has altered this view considerably.

A worker waves from the cone during its demolition in 1943. The bricks were used as hardcore for the runways of wartime airfields at Ilton and Westonzoyland.

During the early stages of the SIAS excavations a machine was employed to remove rubble on and around the features. The raised area of brickwork in the centre is the remnant of the original 18^th century glass furnace. The buildings to the right are in Valetta Place.

A SIAS team at work in 1976. The late Frank Hawtin, the Society’s first chairman,
directed the excavations. He is the central figure wearing a light coloured jacket.

The massive stonework and blocked archways on the inner north side of the cone. The ceramic blockwork was probably built as a security screen at the time of the demolition.
(The ranging poles are in 50cm graduations).

A cache of steens (jars) uncovered during the excavations.

A catalogue dated to 1911 was invaluable in identifying the pottery found.

An usually complete but typical jug.
Other clay products made included
chimney pots and ornamental finials
for the gable ends of roofs.

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Fragments of window glass bullions. The poor quality of the glasswork, which included bottles, was one reason for the brief life of the enterprise. All SIAS finds were deposited with the Blake Museum, Bridgwater.

The site at the time of the completion of the excavations but before conservation work began. The cone base and surrounding area is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with open public access at Northgate (ST 298375).   

For further details see:

Boore, E., and T. Pearson, ‘Red earthenware pottery from the Chandos Glass Cone, Bridgwater’, Proceedings Somerset Arch. & Nat. Hist. Society, Vol.153 (2010) pp.131-150.

Hawtin, F. and B. J. Murless, ‘Bridgwater Glasshouse’, SIAS Journal, No.3 (1981) pp.2-5.

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