POTASH-MAKING IN ESSEX: A LOST RURAL INDUSTRY. 129
Mr. E. Gordon-Harrington, Master of the Saffron Walden Union House, says
that none of his most aged inmates remember Potash being made, but they give
him the names of three localities where "Potashes" formerly existed. They are :
1. One at Ashdon Hill Farm, Ashdon.
2. One at Radwinter, "Potash Farm."
3. One at Berden, "Potash Farm."
Mr. M. P. Lockey, Master of the Tendring Union House, mentions two
Potashes, and adds : "Both of these works have been given up many years."
1. One near Wix Lodge Gate, worked by Mr. Sexton.
2. One near Cann Hall, Great Clacton, worked by John Townsman.
Mr. Timperley, Master of the Maldon Union House, sends me the names of
three Potashes :
1. One at North Shoebury. It was in work 72 years ago.
2. One at Little Baddow, near Potash Farm.
3. One at Purleigh, proprietor's name, Daniel Mead. It was in full work
about forty years ago.
I visited the Union Houses of Lexden and Winstree and Colchester, making
inquiries myself of the aged inmates, and found that many of them remembered
the manufacture going on, and some had worked at it. I gathered information)
from them showing that it must have been a very common industry in their
childhood, and especially so a few years before their time. 
The first man I questioned was Charles Bond, aged 78 years ; he remembered
two Potashes in the Parish of Wormingford, both of them in full work in his
childhood : 
1. One in "Potash" Field, Rochford's Lane.
2. One in "Potash" Field, Bures Road.
Ann Smith, aged 89 years, an inmate of Lexden and Winstree Union House,
said : 1. There was a "Potash" at Aldham, near the old Church ; it was made
with clay and covered with pantiles. 2. A Potash at Bures, carried on by a man
named Bacon, but she does not remember the exact situation of it. She says
Bacon used to come with a team of donkeys occasionally, and put up at Great
Tey "Bells" public-house, sometimes for as much as a week at the time, whilst
he was collecting ashes in the district. She was a girl at this time.
John Purkiss, aged 84 years, now an inmate of Lexden and Winstree Union
said that he remembers a "Potash" at Wakes Colne Hall.
John Rogers, aged 75 years, now an inmate of Lexden and Winstree Union,
lived formerly at Tiptree, said that he remembered the "Potash" near Messing
Wood. He says that it was built in wattle and clay daub, and was carried on by
a man named Cowling. Rogers often carried material there when a boy.
Two or three other inmates remembered the "Potash" on Pattiswick Green,
which gave the name to "Potash Farm" there.
Eliza Harrington, aged 84 years, another inmate of the Lexden and Winstree 
Union House, remembered the "Potash" at Wethersfield mentioned in Mr. J.
Nowell's list. It was down a lane near Mr. Brighton's Farm.
John Went, 84 years old, now in Colchester Union House, said : A man named
Folkard, who lived near the malting on Langham Moor, used to make potash in
a building close by there. Went was then a lad, but remembers Folkard going
round to purchase ashes. He never saw work going on, but he has many times
I