The English Chimney Pot

We have many chimney pots in stock at Thyme on the Terrace, but you may be wondering why we carry them at all. Who needs the top of a chimney? in England, using a chimney pot in the garden is very common place. As old buildings are torn down, these decorative chimney tops and stacks are quite popular. They have the ability to enhance the landscape throughout the year, either as a stand-alone accent, a planter, or as a base to a planter or table. Even though Great Britain leads the world in the use, quantity, variability and size of the chimney pot, they can also be found in France, Italy and the United States as well.

The concept of a chimney came into being around the reign of Elizabeth I, as the hearth disappeared and the deeply recessed fireplace was placed on an end wall of the home. The chimney stack evolved when additional rooms were added to homes, and each needed a fireplace (and subsequently a chimney) for warmth. The base of the stack, which was the collation of several chimneys, could be square, octagonal, hexagonal, circular, fluted, reeded or spiral and could be decorated with chevrons, zigzags, diamonds, honeycombs, and heraldic badges. During Henry VIII's reign, chimneys became very ornate.

By the time of the reign of Charles II, chimneys had become a status symbol, and taxing of the chimney began. During the French Renaissance, lofty chimneys were built. The 18th century is the beginning of the chimney pot as we know it, although there are some from as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. Over time, the shape of chimneys evolved to make them draw better and to also lessen the smoke in the house. The pot was designed to help correct the swirling eddies of wind over the sloping roofs. Pots also began to grow in length, from 3' 6" to as tall as 6'. These taller ones were called "Tallboys."

The Georgian period was the golden age of the chimney pot. Many were made of terracotta, which doesn't loose its luster. The older pots were handmade, some even bearing the maker's mark. Still more are mis-shaped, faded and discolored—all of which lend to their beauty and uniqueness. A mis-shaped pot is truly a good find!

In the catalogue of the National Clayware Federation, there are almost 500 varieties of pots mentioned, each style indicative of a particular region. As an example:

• Southeast – massive brick axial stacks square above the roof ridge
• South of the Thames – stacks are finished with oversailing courses
• East Anglia – finished diagonal or zigzag stacks with lots of angles
• Lake District – known for the finest stacks
• Chichester – known for crooked stacks

With so many varieties around, you should be able to find a style that you like. Below are some pictures of pots we have carried ovr the years, representing a variety of styles and types. Our current inventory runs close to 70 pots, so please come by and take a look! To get a better idea of what we have, click here to go to "Chimney Pots".