years, was shut down on Friday as the company went into a court ordered receivership.

Island Pottery -- which had nine staff, including three potters -- was put into liquidation proceedings after landlord West End Development Corporation presented evidence in Supreme Court showing that the company was unable to pay its debts.

"On its own evidence, this company is insolvent,'' Supreme Court Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux said in making his decision to put the company into receivership on Friday.

The company owed Wedco about $130,000, representing five years back rent.

Wedco's lawyer Dennis Dwyer said unaudited accounts presented by the company showed it had run up a deficit of $700,000 in the past ten years.

Pottery manager Irving Minors said he couldn't understand why Wedco wouldn't let the company continue to operate so it could pay the debt.

"I think it's a great shame that the company has closed,'' he said in an interview. "I think Wedco is being unreasonable. Since December they have had all their rent paid. In doing this liquidation, they are ensuring they don't get their money. It is going to be extremely bad for Dockyard. They are losing one of their major attractions.''