Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

1

Internship Report:

Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Part I: Institutional Analysis

Newhailes House sits, nestled in the middle of a large estate, atop a sloping hill that

looks out onto the sea. Once the country home of the Dalrymple family for nearly three

hundred years, Newhailes is now owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland,

which has conserved the house “as is” since it was given to them by the last surviving family

member in 1997.1 Open to the public since 2002, volunteer tour guides bring visitors through

the “untouched” rooms that the prominent members of the Dalrymple family decorated

throughout the eighteenth century. While the house was built in the 1680’s, it was purchased

by Sir James Dalrymple in 1709, and the next three generations, added to and decorated it in

changing fashionable styles.2 Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, whenever

that family would add or repair décor, it was also in the same eighteenth century style as had

been previously done. This important family tradition is fortunate from an academic

standpoint, because we are now able to view Newhailes as a microcosm of eighteenth century

style and culture. From rococo and neoclassical architecture design, to portraits and a

multitude of ceramics, Newhailes is an important location for academic study. (Appendix I,

Fig. 1)

As a part of the National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes is one of the Trust’s “130

properties of significant historic and architectural value.”3 Established in 1931, the Trust

owns and oversees castles, houses, gardens, islands, and countryside located all over Scotland.

1 Places to Visit: Newhailes. The National Trust for Scotland. http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Newhailes. Significant

information was also gleaned from multiple tours and conversation with National Trust staff. 2 The National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes. Scotland: Stewarts of Edinburgh, 2004. 3 "About the National Trust for Scotland." The National Trust for Scotland: A Place for Everyone.

http://www.nts.org.uk/About/

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

2

With over 312,000 members worldwide, and membership branches in both the United States

and Canada, the Trust is Scotland’s largest membership organization and a conservation

charity independent of the government. Their funding depends solely on donations, grants,

and membership dues.4

Many of the staff members cover multiple sites, such as the Conservation Collections

team, which has staff working part time at Newhailes, as it is only one site in their portfolio.

Newhailes is also allocated three full time staff members, one of which, Learning Officer

Mark McLean, lives on the top floor of the house. Newhailes also has a part time

housekeeper and garden staff, as well as seasonal employees for the gift shop and café, and

volunteer tour guides. Each staff member aspires to meet the four core foundations of the

Trust; conservation, access, education, and enjoyment. Educational and membership events

are held throughout the season at Newhailes (April through October), as they seek to “protect

and promote Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to

enjoy.”5

While each staff member is committed to the aims and objectives of the National

Trust in preserving and promoting Scotland’s rich heritage, there are several issues with the

institution in general that become apparent on closer inspection. The staff that cover multiple

sites as part of their jurisdiction seem to be stretched rather thin. From conversations with

several staff members, this appears to be due to a lack of necessary funding, which seems to

be an issue with non-profit institutions in general during current economic times.

In addition to the conservation and cultural promotion of Scottish heritage through

their sites, the Trust’s locations, particularly Newhailes, serve as a rich environment for

academic and scholarly research. One such independent scholar with ties to Newhailes is Dr.

Joe Rock, my research internship supervisor, and freelance researcher who has studied

4 "About the National Trust for Scotland." http://www.nts.org.uk/About/

5 "About the National Trust for Scotland." http://www.nts.org.uk/About/

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

3

Newhailes over a period of twenty-eight years. As a photographer and “consultant historian”,

Dr. Rock first became interested in studying Newhailes when he was hired by the National

Trust to photograph the contents of the house in the winter of 1985-86. Dr. Rock began to

independently study the house, writing essays on specific areas of personal interest. Once the

Trust took on the property, he then arranged a popular annual series of academic symposiums

for the University of Edinburgh between 1996 and 1998, which showcased a variety of

invited speakers who presented on all aspects of the house and its décor. Throughout this

time, Dr. Rock continued his independent research and began to question many aspects of the

established history of the house. He also transcribed all of the Dalrymple family’s ledgers

that are housed at the National Library of Scotland, and published them on his personal

research website, along with all of his other work and findings.6 Although he believes he has

discovered some evidence to question Newhailes original construction and purpose, the Trust

has shown a certain amount of inflexibility, and seems firmly committed to maintaining the

timeline of Newhailes passed down from generations of Dalrymples. Dr. Rock is currently

working on an article for publication in Architectural Heritage on James Smith (the original

architect) and Newhailes, by using the new material uncovered from his historical research of

the house.7

Part II: Research Internship (Contributions and Self-Assessment)

My internship for the academic year was an independent research internship under the

supervision of Dr. Joe Rock, related to Newhailes, on a subject area of my choosing. Since

Newhailes is owned and run by the National Trust for Scotland, I consulted and worked

closely with several National Trust staff members, as an independent scholar would. I

6 Rock, Joe. “Newhailes New Research.” https://sites.google.com/site/newhailesnewresearch/. 7 As the internship supervisor, Dr. Rock provided valuable background information on Newhailes and his independent

research.

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

4

initially went on a standard tour of Newhailes, did background reading on the Darymples, and

met with Dr. Rock to discuss potential research areas. We agreed that I would begin to look

at the ceramics within Newhailes and, in particular, those pieces made by William Littler, a

notable potter within eighteenth century Scottish ceramics.

In eighteenth century Scotland, the East Lothian coast outside Edinburgh “was one of

the crucibles of the Industrial Revolution in Scotland.”8 Due to its availability of raw

materials, such as coal, salt, and clay, access to seaports, skilled artisan labor force, and a

growing urban market for commodities, it is not surprising that a variety of industries started

up in the region. These included salt panning, brick and tile making, glass making, chemical

manufacturing, and pottery. There were several pottery manufacturers that sprang up along

the coast, but they all consistently made earthenware pottery. It was not until William Littler

came to Edinburgh in 1760 that the “founder of Scotland’s porcelain industry” began

producing soft paste porcelain in the region.9

William Littler originally began producing porcelain at Longton Hall in North

Staffordshire in 1751, but went bankrupt by 1760. Little is known about his life after

Longton Hall, although from sources found in the 1960’s, we know that he came to Scotland

and began producing out of West Pans from 1760, until he went bankrupt again in 1777.10

Despite his tragic ending in the industry, and little known on his personal life, Littler’s pieces

from both Longton Hall and West Pans pottery are highly valued today. With Newhailes

being less than two miles from West Pans, it is not surprising that the Dalrymples acquired

8 Dalgleish, George, George Haggarty, and Patrick McVeigh. Pots at the 'Pans: the potteries of Prestonpans, Musselburgh

and Portobello : a descriptive history and exhibition catalogue. Newtongrange, Midlothian: The Scottish Mining Museum,

1990. p 2-4. 9 Haggarty, George. Out of the Blue: 18th Century Scottish Porcelain. Edinburgh: Museum of Edinburgh, 2008. p 5. 10 McVeigh, Patrick. "The West Pans Pottery and its place in the career of William Littler." The Connoissuer , August 1978.

p 305-306. McVeigh notes that Littler’s presence at West Pans was unknown to ceramics scholars until a 1960 record

discovery that he was made an honorary Burgess of Musselburgh in 1764.

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

5

many pieces, with the records of payment in the family’s ledger.11

In the dining room, a

floral and leaf set is currently on display (Appendix I, Fig. 2-4) and the National Museum of

Scotland currently displays a custom made mug with the family’s motto of “Over Hailes” on

it. (Appendix I, Fig. 5) Littler’s best known pieces however, were the blue and white

ceramics made with cobalt from the Aolla region of Scotland. Newhailes currently houses

two such pieces in the china closet off the library (Appendix I, Fig. 6-8) which are also

marked on the base with Littler’s signature interlaced L’s. (Appendix I, Fig. 9)

I began my initial research at the National Library of Scotland, where I looked at all

of the material on Newhailes. As I further defined my area of research to William Littler, I

ran into some difficulty finding secondary sources. I arranged a visit to the National Museum

of Scotland’s storage facility in Leith, where was able to view their Littler pieces not on

display. On site, I met with George Haggarty, an archaeologist and historian connected to the

National Museum, who also happens to be the resident expert on all things West Pans Pottery.

I was able to learn all of the physical attributes of Littler pieces, such as the Scottish cobalt

that tended to run in the kiln, and that there was originally gilding on man blue and white

pieces, making them much more ornate than they are today. George not only gave me a

tutorial on the subtle nuances of and how to identify Littler pieces, but also invited me to his

Portobello home to utilize his person library and discuss my research. An archaeologist by

trade, George led the excavations of West Pans in the 1980’s and, combined with his

scholarly research, published several comprehensive articles on Littler and West Pans. He

also collaborated with the National Museums for a 2008 exhibition on Scottish porcelain.12

He both confirmed my suspicions on the difficultly of locating secondary literature, and was

also able to point me in the right direction of more sources.

11 Dalrymple of Newhailes Papers, National Library of Scotland, MS.25820, f.27. Notation in the account ledger of

Newhailes notes payment to “Littler, chinaman” for £2 10 shillings. 12 Haggarty, Out of the Blue: 18th Century Scottish Porcelain. p 3.

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

6

After meeting with our University Library liaison, Margaret Forrest and having

several conversations regarding secondary material with George Haggarty, I began to realize

the difficulties other researches might face in finding secondary literature without the learned

advice of the subject’s local experts. While there were several key pieces of secondary

scholarship on William Littler and West Pans, they were both difficult to locate without

expert advice, as well as spread out across several different disciplines, from archaeological

excavation reports to ceramic society journals. In consultation with Dr. Rock, the

culmination of my internship research would be an annotated bibliography of secondary

material on these subjects, which can be of future use to academics and independent scholars

looking for more information. I not only provide a comprehensive summary of each source’s

content and usefulness, but also include the easiest and most efficient way to gain access to

them. (Appendix II)

To bring my research back to Newhailes, I arranged a final visit to the house and met

with Pat Wigston of the Collection Conservations team. There I was able to view the

inventory records of the house and locate both the known Littler pieces, as well as a pen

holder that Dr. Rock had previously suggested he thought might be a Littler piece. (Appendix

I, Fig. 10-12) While the National Trust had not marked it as such, upon inspection of the

base of the pen holder, there was a clear mark of two interlaced L’s. (Appendix I, Fig. 13)

Although they were facing each other, as oppose to Littler standard “back to back” L’s, I

believe they could potential be a Littler piece. While he did not mark all of his pieces, it is

also reasonable to believe he may have experimented with different types of signature marks,

or perhaps one of his employees may have marked the piece. Pat was very interested in the

idea that it could be another Littler piece, and hopefully the Trust will pursue that line of

research further.

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

7

While I faced several challenges throughout my internship, I believe that in the end it

proved both a fruitful addition to my academic experience as well as a contribution to the

wider scholarly community. I experienced the challenges faced by independent scholars

concerning motivation and the organization of a research plan. Once a plan has been outlined,

it is crucial to stick to the self-imposed deadlines to keep research on track, while allowing

some flexibility, as areas of focus may change, or access to materials may shift. Independent

research can begin with one idea, but open up many other avenues of interest that one might

wish to pursue. I also found it is sometimes difficult to work with sources in major museums

and libraries, as with many large institutions, their regulations can often be seen as

bureaucratic. I realized that the key to successful research is persistence. Much like the

professional world, networking with other academics, scholars, and institutional staff is

essential, and maintaining an open dialogue is the only way to ensure comprehensive and

successful research.

Throughout my internship, I was allotted many special research opportunities. I was

able to handle eighteenth century objects at both the National Museum and Newhailes,

several of which are not currently on display to the public. I gained extensive experience

utilizing many of Edinburgh’s public libraries and special collections, as well as a valuable

working knowledge on the professional heritage sector. Perhaps the most valuable

experience was the opportunity to have frequent and lively discussion with the current

leading scholars on the topic I was researching who were friendly and more than willing to

aid in a student’s research.

Overall, I believe that I was able to take my academic skills outside of the classroom

and cultivate them through practical application in the wider scholarly community. My

research internship beginning at Newhailes and subsequently leading to the research of

William Littler and his time at West Pans allowed me to apply many of the skills I have

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

8

learned within the MSc for Eighteenth Century Cultural History program this year, including

object handling and archive and library research. As is often the case, one general area of

interest gave way to a more specific niche of research, which I found both academically

valuable and rewarding. By extensive reading of secondary material, as well as active

discussion with the contemporary expert scholars in the field of Scottish ceramics, I have

been able to compile a comprehensive annotated bibliography on William Littler and his time

at West Pans Pottery, which will be of future use to academics and independent scholars

researching these topics.

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

9

Bibliography

Unpublished Sources

Dalrymple of Newhailes Papers, National Library of Scotland, MS.25820, f.27.

Forbes, Sheila, George Haggarty. “The Ceramic History of West Pans”.

Published Sources

Articles:

Gow, Ian. "Curator's Notes." Guide Information: Newhailes (2004).

McVeigh, Patrick. "The West Pans Pottery and its place in the career of William Littler." The

Connoissuer , August 1978.

Books:

Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara. Destination Culture: tourism, museums, and heritage.

Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.

The National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes. Scotland: Stewarts of Edinburgh, 2004.

Pamphlets and Exhibition Catalogues:

Dalgleish, George, George Haggarty, and Patrick McVeigh. Pots at the 'Pans: the potteries of

Prestonpans, Musselburgh and Portobello : a descriptive history and exhibition catalogue.

Newtongrange, Midlothian: The Scottish Mining Museum, 1990.

Haggarty, George. Out of the Blue: 18th Century Scottish Porcelain. Edinburgh: Museum of

Edinburgh, 2008.

Websites:

"About the National Trust for Scotland." The National Trust for Scotland: A Place for

Everyone. http://www.nts.org.uk/About/

Places to Visit: Newhailes. The National Trust for Scotland.

http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Newhailes.

Rock, Joe. “Newhailes New Research.” https://sites.google.com/site/newhailesnewresearch/

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

10

APPENDIX I __________________________________________

Note: Unless otherwise noted, the majority of images were taken by the intern on site at Newhailes House.

Permission was granted by the National Trust to take the pictures, with the sole intention of only including them

in unpublished academic work.

1

Figure 1: Exterior view of Newhailes House, (National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes House,

Musselburgh)

2

Figure 2: Littler flower and vine pattern porcelain set in Newhailes Dining Room (National

Trust for Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

11

3 4

Figure 3: Close up of Littler flower and vine pattern porcelain heart shaped dish in

Newhailes Dining Room (National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Figure 4: Close up of Littler flower and vine pattern porcelain dish in Newhailes Dining

Room (National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

5

Figure 5: Ceramic mug created by William Littler at West Pans Pottery (National Museum

of Scotland Collections) Image Source: http://tinyurl.com/d7r5mnm

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

12

6

Figure 6: Two Littler pieces in back left corner of China Closet collection (National Trust for

Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

7 8

Figure 7: Side view of Littler porcelain pitcher, China Closet (National Trust for Scotland,

Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Figure 8: Front view of Littler porcelain pitcher, China Closet (National Trust for Scotland,

Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

13

9

Figure 9: Base view of Littler porcelain pitcher, China Closet (National Trust for Scotland,

Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

10

Figure 10: Desk in Green Bedroom with ceramic pen holder in question (National Trust for

Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

14

11 12

Figure 11: Assembled view of ceramic pen holder with removable ink well, (National Trust

for Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Figure 12: Disassembled view of ceramic pen holder with removable ink well, (National

Trust for Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

13

Figure 13: Base view of ceramic pen holder with removable ink well, (National Trust for

Scotland, Newhailes House, Musselburgh)

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

15

APPENDIX II __________________________________________

Below is the preliminary bibliography which has also been submitted to my internship

supervisor, Dr. Joe Rock, for his feedback before its final edits and subsequent publication

online.

Annotated Bibliography

As a result of my internship research on William Littler and his ceramics at West Pans

Pottery, I have compiled a comprehensive annotated bibliography of the secondary materials

available on these subjects, in the hopes that it will aid the future research of other scholars.

The following sources include information on both William Littler and West Pans Pottery, as

well as general background information on Scottish ceramics.

Journal and Magazine Articles:

Forbes, Shelia, and George Haggarty. "The Ceramic History of West Pans Part I."

Journal of the Northern Ceramic Society 21 (2005): 29-47.

Forbes, Shelia, and George Haggarty. "The Ceramic History of West Pans Part II."

Journal of the Northern Ceramic Society 22 (2006): 5-22.

This two-part journal article is the result of the meticulous research and excavations by

Forbes and Haggarty on West Pans. Part I covers the history of the site from 1644 through

1777, when Littler’s West Pans Pottery went bankrupt. Part II goes back to the mid

eighteenth century, and includes an expert attempt at making sense of the complex financial

records surrounding the site, concluding with the West Pans history through 1932.

Combining both primary source documents as well as findings from archaeological

excavations, it is probably the most comprehensive history of the West Pans Pottery site.

This source is available at the National Library of Scotland and must be requested in person.

(Shelf mark HP2.81.1108 PER)

Forbes, Shelia, and George Haggarty. "Scotland: Lind and A-Marked Porcelain."

Journal of the Northern Ceramic Society 20 (2003): 1-10.

This journal article attempts to draw connections between a set of ‘A’ –marked porcelain and

Alexander Lind, thereby giving the set a previously undiscovered Scottish origin. This

theory was first developed in Dr. Joe Rock’s 'The 'A' Marked Porcelain: Further Evidence for

the Scottish Option” and therefore this source is best read in conjunction with Rock’s 1996

article (see citation). While the theory presented is speculative, it also gives interesting

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

16

insight into the potential reason there was a working porcelain kiln at West Pans, and in turn,

why Littler may have been drawn to that location. This journal is available at the National

Library of Scotland and must be requested in person. (Shelf mark HP2.81.1108 PER)

Haggarty, George . "Pots and the Pans: William Littler’s Porcelain Factory at West

Pans." Transactions of the East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’

Society XXVIII (2010): 5-29.

While this article gives a general overview of Littler and West Pans as well as the historical

background of pottery in the East Lothian region, much of the same information can be found

in the more extensive 2005-2006 publications ‘The Ceramic History of West Pans’ Part I and

II by Shelia Forbes and George Haggarty (see citation). This item is available at the National

Museum of Scotland Library (Call Number: PER 2 EAS). The Museum Library is open to the

public during museum hours.

McVeigh, Patrick. "The West Pans Pottery and its place in the career of William

Littler." The Connoissuer , August 1978.

Despite being an older source, this article provides sufficient information on Littler and the

background of pottery in industrial Scotland. Although the focus is meant to be on Littler

and his time at West Pans, nearly half the article discusses what happened at West Pans after

Littler went bankrupt. This source is very helpful, however, in explaining the timeline that

lead to the scholarly discovery of Littler coming to Scotland. It would be a useful source for

those looking at a historiography of the scholarship on Littler. This item is available at the

National Museum of Scotland Library (Call Number: 738.09411 MCV). The Museum

Library is open to the public during museum hours.

Turnbull, Jill. "Scottish Cobalt and Nicolas Crisp." Transactions: English Ceramic

Circle 16, no. 2 (1997): 144-151.

This short paper chronicles and analyzes letters from Nicholas Crisp, written between 1761

and 1764, who was heavily involved in the export of cobalt from the Alloa region of Scotland.

As most European porcelain’s cobalt came from Eastern Europe, this source provides

interesting background information on the source of cobalt used by artisans in Scotland,

including Littler at West Pans. The Transactions journal of the English Ceramic Circle can be

requested at the National Library of Scotland (Shelf mark: HJ8.2919). The Edinburgh

College of Art Library also has copies, stored offsite, of issues published between 1928 and

1996. Additionally this volume may be purchased online

(http://www.englishceramiccircle.org.uk).

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

17

Books:

Barker, David, and Sam Cole. "William Littler at Longton Hall." In Digging for Early

Porcelain: The Archaeology of Six 18th-century British Porcelain Factories.

Stoke-on-Trent: City Museum & Art Gallery, 1998. 4-21.

Barker and Cole’s chapter gives an adequate background into Litter’s time at Longton Hall,

supported with both documentary and archaeological evidence. This source is useful for a

concise overview of the history, archaeology, and ceramic style developed during Littler’s

time at Longton Hall. The complete book is available and stored onsite at the National

Library of Scotland. (Shelf mark: HP3.99.591)

Barker, David, and Sam Cole. "The Longton Hall - West Pans Puzzle." In Digging for

Early Porcelain: The Archaeology of Six 18th-century British Porcelain Factories.

Stoke-on-Trent: City Museum & Art Gallery, 1998. 35-39.

In their second chapter within Digging for Early Porcelain, Barker and Cole investigate the

connection between Longton Hall and West Pans Pottery made by William Litter, by

examining the archaeological evidence that shows similarities between the production

methods and products of each site. This source is useful in studying the transition of Littler

from Longton Hall to West Pans, and shows that he might have even taken some of the kiln

wares with him from one location to the next. The complete book is available and stored

onsite at the National Library of Scotland. (Shelfmark: HP3.99.591)

Godden, Geoffrey. "The Baddeley-Littler porcelains? c. 1777-c.1785." In Staffordshire

Porcelain. London: Granada Publishing, 1983. 32-45.

In this chapter, which is part of a larger book on pottery in Staffordshire, England, the author

presents his theory that ceramics initially thought to be from the Liverpool area and how he

believes they might be pieces made by Littler after he left Scotland. Although a self-

admittedly controversial theory is presented, the author intends to submit his alternative

opinion and reminds readers that theories are speculative, and should not be taken as fact.

This source is useful in presenting an idea of what Littler might have done once West Pans

went bankrupt in 1777. This source is available, but stored offsite, at the National Library of

Scotland (Shelf mark: H9.85.39).

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

18

Holdaway, Dr Minnie. "Moulded Porcelain Wares Made By William Littler at West

Pans." In Digging for Early Porcelain: The Archaeology of Six 18th-century

British Porcelain Factories. . Stoke-on-Trent: City Museum & Art Gallery, 1998.

22-34.

After the excavations of the West Pans site, once it had been widely accepted by the ceramic

community that porcelain was manufactured in Scotland during the eighteenth century,

Holdaway uses this chapter to discuss Littler at West Pans and the characteristics of his

ceramic pieces from that time. Written before Forbes and Haggarty published their full

ceramic history of West Pans (see citation), the author urges further study of the

archaeological findings. Although slightly outdated, this source is still useful for further

understanding the characteristics and nuances of Littler’s West Pans pieces. The complete

book is available and stored onsite at the National Library of Scotland. (Shelf mark:

HP3.99.591)

Watney, Bernard. Longton Hall porcelain. London: Faber and Faber, 1957.

Although published before the 1960 discovery of Littler at West Pans, this books provides a

detailed background on Longton Hall and Littler’s time there, as well as how he developed

the styles we then see in West Pans pieces. The many photographs of ceramic pieces, despite

being in black and white, add the ability to see other examples of his earlier work and help

identify his signature styles. This source is available and stored onsite at the National Library

of Scotland. (Shelf mark: NF.1480.e.24) It is also available for students and staff at the

University of Edinburgh Library (Shelf mark: .7382(4246) Wat.)

Exhibition Catalogues and Pamphlets:

Dalgleish, George, George Haggarty, and Patrick McVeigh. Pots at the 'Pans: the

potteries of Prestonpans, Musselburgh and Portobello : a descriptive history and

exhibition catalogue. Newtongrange, Midlothian: Scottish Mining Museum, 1990.

An informational pamphlet commissioned by the Scottish Mining Museum, this source

contains general information on several pottery sites in the area, including West Pans.

Without going into much depth, it could be useful for gaining a quick understanding of the

different types of pottery and their assembly process. This source is available onsite at the

National Library of Scotland (Shelf mark: HP3.90.978).

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

19

Haggarty, George. Out of the Blue: 18th Century Scottish Porcelain. Edinburgh:

Museum of Edinburgh, 2008.

This is an exhibition catalogue from a 2008 exhibition, held at the Museum of Edinburgh, of

West Pans porcelain on loan from multiple Scottish collections, including Newhailes. It

does not only provide a helpful overview of Littler and West Pans, but also includes images

of most of the West Pans pieces in contemporary Scottish collections, as well as descriptions

of each piece written by a leading scholar in the field. This would be a particularly useful

reference if one was not able to view the pieces in person. This source is available, but stored

offsite, at the National Library of Scotland. (Shelf mark: PB7.211.30/1)

Websites:

"Digging for early porcelain." Stokes Museums.

http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/collections/browse_collections/ceramics//digginge

arlyporcelaine.

A concise overview of William Littler and his time at Longton Hall and West Pans, this

source does not go into much depth, but would be a suitable starting point for background

information on the subject. This source is available on the open web.

Rock, Joe. “Newhailes New Research.” https://sites.google.com/site/newhailesnewresearch/

On this website, Dr. Rock has transcribed the Dalrymple of Newhailes papers at the National

Library of Scotland. This is a useful source for finding the documentation of exchanges,

including purchases of ceramics, between William Littler and the Dalrymple family. This

source is available on the open web.

Other:

Haggarty, George. West Pans potteries ceramic resource disk [electronic resource] .

Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 2006.

A resource disk of all material collected and archived from the archaeological excavations of

the West Pans site, this source contains images and descriptions of the shards and pieces

found throughout the dig. This source would be useful in adding additional context to Shelia

Forbes and George Haggarty’s ‘The Ceramic History of West Pans’ Part I and II (see

Eighteenth-Century Cultural History Program

Internship Report: Independent Research on Newhailes, William Littler, and West Pans Pottery

Exam No. B032106

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citation). This item is available at the National Museum of Scotland Library (Call Number:

XX 182138.1). The Museum Library is open to the public during museum hours.

William Littler: An English Earth Potter 1724-1784: Proceedings of the Mint Museum of

Art Ceramic Seminar. Charlotte, North Carolina: Delhom Service League and

Mint Museum of Art, 1999.

This collection of seminar proceedings includes eight papers covering Littler’s years at

Longton Hall and West Pans, and an overview of the archaeological evidence supporting

these theories. This is an overall very comprehensive source that would be a helpful starting

point of secondary literature on multiple aspects of Littler’s career. Availability is limited, but

local holdings can be found on WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47764409).