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WATCOMBE POTTERY
OF
TORQUAY
" LLANDUDNO "
JUG
The Watcombe Pottery existed for nearly one hundred years
during which they produced a wonderful and varied amount of pottery
much of it unique but also in the style and trends of Torquay and of the times.
It was in the grounds of Watcombe House near Torquay that the fine red Devon clay was first
discovered about 1865. This prompted the owner a G. P. Allen to
establish the Watcombe Terracotta Clay Company
off Teignmouth Road, St. Marychurch
In 1869 with Charles Brock a Staffordshire potter to train the local workers
and supervise the experience Staffordshire ones like William Samuel Bond.
Classical styles of the period like terracotta busts, figures, urns and jugs were produced first.
In 1901 the Watcombe pottery was acquired by Hexter, Humpherson and Co., who also owned the Aller Vale pottery enabling the Watcombe pottery to benefit from the expertise of Aller Vale’s decorators using coloured slips for decoration to produce the popular motto wares for the emerging tourist industry.
For over sixty years the Watcombe pottery continued to produce a great variety of novelty items and other decorative styles reflecting changing fashions.
Notable are the decorative jugs and vases , both local and of places and buildings around the country. Windmills, Kingfisher, Seagull and wading bird items proved popular as well as the traditional Scandy, Cockerel, Sailboat and Cottage motto wares.
After the Second World War, Watcombe tried to recapture its old markets which include buying up it’s competitor, the Longpark pottery. They introduced Widecombe Fair, Polka Dot and Winter Cottage decorated pottery to their range, but in 1962 was finally forced to close down.
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