Surrey Whiteware Clays: Some Recent Research into a Likely Source

This note describes recent research into the likely source of white-firing clays used in the medieval Surrey Whiteware industry. White-firing clay samples from Claypit Wood, Farnham Old Park are compared, using ICP-AES analysis, with samples from the medieval production centre at Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames. The clay sample is also tested for its potting qualities, plasticity and the range of temperatures at which it can be fired to produce both earthenware and stoneware vessels.