Hi Robert,
This is an interesting one. We have discovered quantities of ball clay
within the Combe Martin mines, and quite a large quantity when the engine
house was excavated (certainly not local clays). Two things come to mind.
Exactly the same material has been found underground (balls the size of an
orange) with the remains of candles in them. An old timer presented us with
such a ball (white clay) which has gone absolutely solid which he said was
his grandfather's candle holder when he was a miner. However, this begs the
question why local clays were not used for the same purpose.
The other thought is that we are excavating out quite large quantities of
furnace lining which has the characteristic of ball clay on the lesser
heated side but has become vitrified on the side facing the heat. Now,
whether this was used as a lining for the boilers for the engine house, or,
in a smelting process we are not sure until we get the material analysed. It
may be that it was used as a furnace lining of some description and was also
convenient to use as candle holders. In our case the date ranges would be
similar to yours.
Kindest regards,
Trevor
http://www.cmsmrps.org.uk a community archaeology initiative
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Waterhouse" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: The uses of Ball Clay
Dear List,In recent excavations on the quays at Morwellham, West Devon, some
ball clay has been found in a context probably datable to between 1817 and
1855. Does anyone know what it might have been imported for? The only uses I
know of are domestic earthenwares (the Potteries imported huge quantities of
it) and clay tobacco pipes, wig curlers, etc. I can't think what it might
have been used for in the Tavistock Mining District, as we had several local
sources of clay which were used for brick and tile making from the 1850s
onwards, but not much before that decade.Any ideas?Robert Waterhouse;
Morwellham Quay Archaeologist
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