POTASH-MAKING IN ESSEX : A LOST RURAL INDUSTRY. 131
"Potashes" is described, and reference is made to the use of the potash for
soap-making.
James Wilsmore, aged 73 years, living on Malting Green, Layer de la Haye,
remembers the ruins of a "Potash," in front of the Malting Farm House, on
Malting Green. The corner is still known as "Potash Corner." He also
remembers James Scott, who carried on the "Potash" at Tollesbury, coming
round to purchase ashes, for which the price was fivepence a bushel ; and his wife
said she also remembered Scott telling her mother that the ashes then were of
little value, as the people burned so much bean straw instead of wood.
William Curtis, aged 87 years, has lived in Layer de la Haye all his life, and
remembers the ruins of a "Potash," in "Potash Field," at Layer de la Haye, just
in front of the Vicarage gates, but there was no work going on in his time.
James Wood, aged 76 years, has lived in Layer de la Haye the greater part of
his life, remembers an old man coming round purchasing ashes, probably the man
referred to by Ann Smith. He thinks he came from Bures, driving before him
eight or mote donkeys with panniers on to hold the ashes.
Benjamin Munson, aged 86 years, has lived sixty years at Layer de la Haye ;
before that at Polstead, Suffolk, where he was born. He remembers a "Potash" on
Polstead Heath, carried on by an old titan named Smith, who, with his two sons
attended to it. He often saw the work going on when he went there to carry
materials for burning, but he never understood the process—the great tub, holding
four or five hogsheads, like a large mash tub, from its size much interested him,
as did the hearth, which he describes as being nearly as large as a room. Smith
would buy and carry to his Potash any weeds or rubbish, and Manson has often
assisted in carrying the weeds raked off the fields in cleaning bean and pea-etches ;
a lot of the rubbish was what he called "Hog grass.'' The building was made as
those were that I myself remember, the sides being wattle and clay daub, and the
covering pantiles.
Manson also said "there was no soda then," the women using Potash for their
washing; and he thought the introduction of cheap soda "did away with the
trade."
John Moss, aged 69 years, had lived in Stanway all his life, and remembers
the banks surrounding a small inclosure, with a pond in it, in the second field on
Bell House Farm, as you come from Warren Lane. This is called "Potash-field,"
because there was a "Potash" in the inclosure, but he has no idea when it was
given up. The banks were levelled and the pond filled up about forty-one years ago.
William Bacon, aged 79 years, an inmate of Winsley's Almshouses, says that
he was born at Pantile Farm, Copford, and that at the adjoining farm, called
Mulberry Farm, there was a "Potash." It was worked by Charles Warren, who
lived in a cottage close by. The building was made with large oak studds, filled
in between with sticks and clay. Warren used to go all round the district pur-
chasing ashes, for which he paid 6d. a bushel. Bacon never paid sufficient
attention to the process to become acquainted with it, although he often saw it
going on. The work ceased when he was a little boy.
Bacon also remembered the remains of another Potash, on the right side of the
road going from Copford to Layer Breton, between Bockenham and Beckingham
Halls. This had been given up before his birth, but probably not long before.
William Smith, aged 83 years, now living at 49, Military Road, Colchester
but formerly at Earl's Colne, remembers a "Potash" at Countess Cross, in White
Colne. It was worked by Samuel Manuel. There was another, opposite the