Clay Cellars Studio

This is a pair of former clay cellars dating from around 1843. They are constructed of local grey limestone rubble and have a slate roof. The cellars comprise a single-storey, rectangular building containing two clay cellars with opposing doors. The thick, battered walls were designed to withstand the weight of the clay. The doorways at the front (south) and rear (north) have timber lintels and stone relieving arches. Internally, there are king post roof trusses, although some timbers have been replaced, and many purlins have been removed.

The cellars are linked to the construction of the Stover Canal and the Hackney Canal in the late 18th century and early 19th century, which were built to transport ball clay, a locally quarried material. Lord Clifford of Ugbrooke Park commissioned the Hackney Canal in 1841-3, and the cellars were built at this time to store clay for transport to Teignmouth via the canal. The Hackney Canal ceased operation in 1929.

These buildings are designated at Grade II for their rarity and significance as surviving examples of mid-19th century clay cellars. They retain distinctive features, such as the massive battered walls, and are an integral element of the industrial landscape associated with the South Devon ball clay industry.