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Measham
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Measham is a large village in the county of Leicestershire, England, close to its borders with Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. It lies off the A42, 4.5 miles (7.25 km) south of Ashby de la Zouch, within the National Forest. Historically in Derbyshire, it lay in an enclave absorbed into Leicestershire in 1897. The name is thought to mean "homestead on the River Mease".
The village name Meas-Ham suggests it was founded in the Saxon period between AD 350 and 1000.
Just before the Norman Conquest of 1066, the village belonged to "Earl Algar". The Domesday Book of 1086 has it as belonging directly to the King, as part of a royal estate centred at Repton. Its taxable value as assessed at a mere 2 geld units, containing land for three ploughs, 20 acres (8 ha) of meadow, and a square furlong (10 acres, 4 ha) of woodland.
Measham has a long pottery history: extraction of clay was recorded in the 13th century. The Measham Ware associated with canals and narrow boats was made from the last quarter of the 19th century until about 1914 (other sources say 1910), not in Measham, but in nearby villages, mainly Church Gresley. It is thought to have gained the name "Measham" from large sales by Mrs Anne Bonas from a shop in Measham High Street.
Measham ware has a dark brown Rockingham glaze with white-clay additions colourfully painted, usually with flowers and often a personal motto. Most commonly seen are teapots, often with a miniature-teapot shape as a finial.
Earliest known production was in 1870 by William Mason of Church Gresley (later Mason Cash); this list refers to pieces as Motto Ware, later also Barge Ware due to canal associations. Measham Ware was popular with canal people. On passing through Measham on the Ashby Canal, they would place their order for a personalised teapot as they passed through and collect it on their next visit. Measham Ware was also popular among farm labourers in Norfolk and Suffolk: after harvesting in their own counties, they often travelled to Burton Upon Trent to work in the maltings and other industries associated with brewing. Measham Ware became a popular gift to take home. Locals often bought them as wedding gifts, passing them down the generations at weddings. Production of Measham Ware ended around 1910-1914, although modern reproductions have been produced more recently. There is a large collection in the Measham Museum. London's Victoria and Albert Museum also has an example on display.
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