Pottery fragments

Because it has long been a trading port Poole has received goods from all over Europe. Time has destroyed many of the items such as those made of leather and wood which simply rot away. Pottery however, breaks but does not rot. Pottery fragments have been found on archaeological sites throughout the Old Town.

Most of the pottery from the medieval period is of fairly everyday quality. However, in the period of the Newfoundland trade merchants became very wealthy and could afford the best.

You can see evidence of this is in the Chinese porcelain found in New Street. This is of exceptional quality. The material was probably owned by the White family who are mentioned in one of the stories on the first floor.