What the heck is a lek?
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
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Verwood was a prolific pottery manufacturer based in Dorset, who sold their vast variety of household wares in the Salisbury district for some 500 years until the 1950s. This three-tired moneybox, or money bottle, is one of the more unusual products from the prolific potters, with three different layers to collect pounds, shillings, and pence.
In The Salisbury Museum’s collection is this distinctive money box, which stands out for its tower of spheres. Each sphere has an opening for money to be inserted, and a letter etched under each opening to collect pounds, shillings, and pence. It has an all-over yellow glaze and a hole through the top knop, presumably so that it can be carried on a rope or hung up. Little is known about the object’s history other than that it is part of the Verwood potteries. It bears a strong resemblance to late Victorian and early Edwardian money boxes, which continued to replicate historic ceramic techniques, whilst being creative with shapes, such as this three-tiered design.
The practice of storing money and valuables in money boxes dates to ancient Greece and Rome. It was the Victorians who made the money box a household item. The ceramic money box could take on many forms. Featuring images of animals, fairy tale characters, and other whimsical designs. Not only decorative – these money boxes had a second function. They were to educate Britain’s social classes with good housekeeping and encourage people to save their money. The middle classes were developing during the 19th century, along with greater social and geographical mobility. This impacted Britain’s economy, currency, working wages and personal savings. Among the many social reforms during the period, there were monetary reforms. With changes to coinage and banknotes, in addition to calls for decimalisation as early as 1870. [i]
The ceramic industry in Verwood, Dorset arguably dates to the Roman period. In the third and fourth centuries, records show that yellow clay was taken from Verwood for use in the Roman New Forest potteries. Verwood’s pottery industry is thought to have re-established in the twelfth or thirteenth centuries, until production ceased in 1952. Over this period, much of the clay dug in the village was yellow and was mixed with blue clay brought from Holwell by horse and cart. Experienced hands were needed. After the potteries were re-established, Verwood enjoyed steady production, selling a diverse range of goods in Salisbury for 500 years. Verwood’s closed and stopped producing in 1952. This was likely triggered by World War One, when twelve Verwood potteries were forced to close. Enamel ware was proving more popular during the social-economic upheaval, due to its more reasonable price and greater durability.[ii]
[i] Victorian Voices Article. 1870 Metric System.
[ii] Verwood. History Crafts, Pottery.
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!