KEEN industrial researcher Colin Davies is attempting to mould together a history of bygone pottery enterprises in South West Lancashire, in particular, those that once flourished in St Helens, Prescot, Sutton and surrounding villages.

Now Colin, from Huyton, is hoping that well-informed customers of this column can help him with his challenge.

He explains: "I am collecting as much information as possible about local potters and their families over past generations, with a view to eventually producing a documented history on the subject".

He's hoping that our readers can dig out some details about the old pottery sites, the potters' family connections and contributions to their local community. Colin regards this as social history's "untold story", pointing out that potters played a significant role in the development and the drive behind the Industrial Revolution, which, in turn, produced new ideas and inventions, "spawning new industries which would eventually overwhelm them".

Long before the production of copper cabling, glass, watchmaking, chemicals and world-famous patent remedies (with which the St Helens-Prescot area is more commonly associated) there were always potters to be found.

Colin would welcome any info on the subject.

HE can be contacted at 44 White Lodge Avenue, Huyton, L36 2PU or by telephone on 0151-480-8239.