PUTTING a little bit of forgotten history under the microscope with the help of residents from Surrey is a museum volunteer.

Tim Winter is hoping that people will help him come up with some information for his research project on the cottage industry of Hammer Vale Pottery.

Located in Hammer Lane and founded in 1901 by William Wilson Stallworthy, whose father was the local Congregational Church minister, along with James Radley Young, a highly skilled potter from Poole in Dorset.

Among the  pottery produced at Hammer were vases, candlesticks, bowls, jugs and tiles and terra-cotta garden ware, as well as novelty items including model pigs glazed in various colours.

Green pots with a metallic iridescent glaze, similar to jugs and ewers made at Farnham, were also made at Hammer Pottery.

A fine example of pottery clearly marked ‘Stallworthy, Haslemere’ is currently on display in ‘The Rustic Renaissance’ – Haslemere’s Arts and Crafts Heritage exhibition at the museum. 

The pottery was sold in local shops among them Charman & Hatch on Haslemere High Street as well as more widely through agents in Hampshire, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Dorset and London.

But the pottery had a rather short life. 

By 1906, Radley Young had returned to Poole and then, in late 1911, Mr Stallworthy together with his wife, left Hammer and travelled to New York, sailing from Southampton on board the RMS Olympic. 

The captain was E J Smith who only five months later commanded the Titanic on her fateful voyage in April 1912. 

During WWI, Mr Stallworthy served with the Canadian army and his wife, Letitia, returned to live in Headley Down in 1933. 

Haslemere Museum hopes to hear from anybody who knows anything about the pottery or the Stallworthy family, including old photographs showing the pottery buildings in Hammer Lane.

Also of interest would be a member of the family who has talked about the old pottery in the past or who worked there.

Anyone with any information, no matter how small is asked to call Haslemere Museum on 01428 642112 or you can email: [email protected]