Fowler's Pottery: Excavation of a 19th Century Manufacturing Site in Mid Ulster

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Background

Historical Background

The Coarse Earthenware Pottery Industry of the 18th and 19th Centuries

Geophysical Survey

Objectives

The Excavation

Site Description

Methodology

Account of the Excavation

The Pottery

Methodology

Results

Discussion

Pottery Vessel Types

Kiln Furniture

The Kiln

The Drying Room

Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix 1: Report on Historical Sources

Appendix 2: Context List

Appendix 3: Harris Matrices

Appendix 4: Pottery Quantities

Appendix 5: Pottery Weights (grams)

Appendix 6: Rim Form and Diameter

About the Author

Sarah Gormley holds an MPhil in Archaeology (2004) and works in Queen’s University Belfast where she has managed a wide range of archaeological projects including Archaeological Objects from County Fermanagh (2000-2002), the Condition and Management Survey of the Archaeological Resource in Northern Ireland (2004-2009), and the major post-excavation programmes for Parke’s Castle (2007- 2012), and Ranalagh (2017-2022). Sarah has directed numerous excavations including St Elizabeth’s Church (2007) and Fowler’s Pottery (2019).

Jordan McClelland holds a BA Archaeology degree (2023) and MRes degree (2024) from Queen’s University Belfast, where he has conducted several research projects into historical Irish ceramics. His undergraduate dissertation studied an assemblage of Medieval ceramics from Cathedral Hill Downpatrick, while his MRes dissertation studied the 19th century ceramics recovered from Fowler’s Pottery. Jordan has recently commenced a doctoral study at Queen’s University Belfast working on connections between the Early Medieval pottery of Ireland and western Scotland.