My skin is stained a brick red colour because of the pigments in my clay
‘I’ve been a potter on the east side of the bridge in Bideford all my life.
My skin is stained a brick red colour because of the pigments in my clay and people make a wide berth around me, but I’m good at what I do and am grateful to my father for giving his skills to me.
North Devon is famed for its pottery now. Much of it goes to the Americas and some of my wares have found their way to the Indies. I was so very proud of that shipment. As the wharfmen loaded the jugs onto the sloop on Bideford quayside, I watched with a keen eye, not wanting any of it to be broken. They did a good job!
My father tells stories of many generations of our kinfolk throwing pots on the wheel…..simple items for cooking and storage…. The tales go back to a time before the Romans built their bridge across the Torridge, when my people were scratching the clay out of the muddy banks of the River Taw in Fremington. Those people liked our clay, as do I ….. it’s fine and easy to work with.
I have been approached by the new ‘clerk of works’….. he would like me to make heavy cylindrical pipes, yards long. He says they’ll be buried and will transport clean water all over the town. It sounds fanciful to me, but I have a mind to take on Jane’s young son as an apprentice. The extra work will be good for our purse!
Ah well!……Today I have to complete an order from one of the many brewery’s, here in North Devon…… six gross pint tankards.
I must get back to work.
And I wish your feet well. May they bring you to my threshold again soon, m’dear ’
Revisiting North Devon as a traveller is always a pleasure to me. I have many connections there, and my roots are deep. We spend a few days in the area on one of my tours and I relish being back.