CHAPTER IV.

Chesterfield—Caskon—Heathcote—Brampton—Posset Pots—Puzzle Jugs—Welshpool and Payne Potteries—The Pottery—Walton Pottery—Wheatbridge Pottery—Alma, Barker, and London Potteries—Whittington—Bromley—Jewitt—Newbold—Eckington—Belper—Codnor Park—Denby—Bournes Pottery—Shipley—Alfreton—Langley Mills—Ilkeston—Pinxton—Pinxton China—China Tokens—Wirksworth—Dale Abbey—Repton—Encaustic Tiles—Tile Kilns, London—Tickenhall—Kings Newton—Burton-on-Trent—Swadlincote Potteries—Church Gresley Potteries—Gresley Common—Woodville—Hartshorne, &c.—Wooden Box—Rawdon Works—Pool Works—Coleorton—&c., &c.

The earliest potter in Chesterfield of whom there is any record is William Caskon, or Kaskon, who died 8th Henry VIII. (1517), and the next is Ralph Heathcote, who was both a potter, brazier, and bell-founder. This Ralph Heathcote, who had married Elizabeth, daughter of John Tomson (or Tomason, as it is variously spelled), brazier, of Chesterfield, became by will of his father-in-law (will dated October 1, 1496) executor. Tomson lived in Saltergate, in a house previously held by William Forneday and Margaret his wife, which was surrendered to him in 1483. This house was afterwards, in 1501, released to “Ralph Heathcote, of Chesterfield, Potter.” This is evidenced by two deeds, one by Thomas Moore, of Cuttethorpe, releasing the messuage in Saltergate to “Ralph Hethcote, of Chesterfield, Potter”; and the other from Thomas Moore, of Cuttethorp, and James Moore, of Syrley Grange, “to Ralph Hethecote, of Chesterfield, Potter,” a bond for £20 to secure peaceable possession of the messuage in the Saltergate, Chesterfield, late in the occupation of John Tomson, deceased, and W. Forneby, deceased.”

It is evident, from a deed of 8th Henry VIII. (1517), that Ralph Heathcote took to the trade and goods of William Caskon, potter, of Chesterfield, in that year. The deed is a receipt from “Isabel Kaskon, ye daughter of William Caskon, of Chesterfield, Potter, lately deceased,” to “Rauff Hethcote, of ye same place, brasier,for her child’s part of the goodes and money of the said William Caskon.”

In 1557–8 Robert Parker, of Chesterfield, gent., and Mary, his wife, son and heir of George Parker, deceased, of the one part, and Rauf Heathcott, of Chesterfield, potter, of the other part, released a tenement in Saltergate, and lands at Tapton Lane.

The manufacture of pottery continued uninterruptedly from Heathcote’s time downwards, although the names of the potters are not always to be found. In a scarce little book, entitled “A Short Tour in the Midland Counties of England performed in the Summer of 1772,” the following interesting notice of Chesterfield occurs:—

“Chesterfield is a large town; but, as I passed through, I saw nothing uncommon but the ugly church; it is old and built of bad stone, but rendered most disgusting by its wooden spire (covered with lead) being so much warped that I discovered its crookedness at three miles distance. In the town is a manufacture of pots. At Asher and many villages in the neighbourhood camomile is much cultivated.”

Pilkington, who wrote in 1789, says, speaking of the manufactures of Chesterfield:—

“Nor should it be omitted, that a large quantity of coarse earthenware is manufactured here. In this business three potteries are worked, which afford employment to about sixty hands.”

Sir Richard Phillips, who wrote his “Tour” in 1828, says, speaking of Chesterfield:—

“There are some potteries in this neighbourhood which employ about 200 persons, at wages of from 10s. to 13s. per week, and for better workmen, from 18s. to 25s. The description of manufacture is exclusively brown ware, except in one instance, which includes black also. The number of potteries is ten, and the larger part is for home consumption, though a small proportion is sent to the Dutch market.”

The manufacture of brown ware at Brampton has probably been established a couple of centuries. In the early part of the present century there were here six earthenware manufactories, which were carried on by the following persons:—Mrs. Blake (this now forms part of the works of Mr. Matthew Knowles); Mr. William Briddon (now continued by his son); Mr. Luke Knowles (now forming part of Mr. Matthew Knowles’ works); Mr. Thomas Oldfield (now continued by his nephew, Mr. John Oldfield); Mr. John Wright (now discontinued; it stood on what is now the site of thepresent rectory of St. Thomas’s Church); and that of Edward Wright and Son (still carried on by the family). At the present time there are eight manufactories, which will be separately spoken of presently. At these, brown ware of a remarkably hard and durable quality, and stoneware of the most impervious character, are made in great perfection and in immense quantities. The clays principally used are “Stone Edge,” or “Lidd clay,” found at East Moor, orWadshelf, about three miles away, and “Brampton clay,” found in the immediate neighbourhood.

Figs. 95 and 96.

Figs. 97 and 98.

At Brampton, “posset pots” have, for some centuries, been, and still continue to be, made. Of these some notice is already given in vol. i., pp.107,108, and418. The two here engraved (Figs.95 and 96) show their general form; the one is dated 1750 and the other 1819. I have myself examples as late as 1874. Usually the name of the parties for whom they are made are incised in same manner as the pattern.

Another marked feature of Brampton, or “Chesterfield Ware,” has for a long period been the “puzzle jugs” there made. These, which are still produced on the old models, as well as in more modern applications of the principle, are made in a variety of shapes and of various sizes. In some the perforations in the neck and rim are more elaborate and intricate than in others, and some have three, five, or seven spouts. Commonly, as in Fig.97, they are ornamented with figures or other designs in relief, but sometimes are plain.

Another usual class of design is that which includes jugs, mugs, and other vessels whose handles (Fig.98) are formed of more or less cleverly modelled greyhounds. Some of the larger of these mugs have two, others three, and others four, handles thus formed.

The Welshpool and Payne Potteries.—These works, belonging to Messrs. Matthew Knowles and Son, are among the largest in Brampton. They embrace the old works carried on last century by Mr. Blake, and afterwards by his widow, and those of Mr. Luke Knowles, with considerable additions. They came into the hands of Mr. Matthew Knowles about 1840, and were by him considerably enlarged. Recently he has been joined in partnership by his son, under the style of “Matthew Knowles & Son,” and the works were again in 1875 very much extended. At these works all the general descriptions of brown and stone ware goods are produced; but an immense number of articles are made for the Australian, Russian, African, and Jamaica markets, as well as for the home trade. Among the articles produced in large quantities at these works are stoneware spirit-bottles, and spirit kegs and barrels, which are much esteemed for their hardness and durability and their fine quality; ginger-beer bottles, both in stone ware and brown ware; jam jars, for wholesale preserve manufacturers (such as Grey, Dennett & Co., and others), ingallon and half-gallon sizes, in brown ware glazed inside, forming one of the staple productions of Mr. Knowles, and of which, with one exception, he is the only maker in the district; stew and sauce pots; fruit and other jars; flat dishes; turtle and beef pots; bowls and collanders; tobacco-jars, highly ornamented; “Punch” jugs of striking design, “hunting” jugs, “game” jugs, and other jugs designed and modelled with great taste; puzzle-jugs; posset-pots; candlesticks of classical design and good execution; bread-baskets; toast-racks; tea-kettles; flower-pots and vases; foot and carriage warmers; grotesque tobacco-pipes, and a large variety of other goods, besides the usual domestic vessels, are made at these works, and are as good as the common nature of the material will admit. The filters made by Mr. Knowles, of which he produces a large number, are of excellent construction, and of good design. They are among the best produced, and being in the fine deep rich colour of the “Chesterfield ware,” are very effective, and perhaps more pleasing in appearance than many others in the “Bristol ware,” &c. In china clay ware also a large variety of articles of remarkably good quality are made. It may be well to add that at these works the clay is prepared by steam. It is “blunged,” and then passed through a fine sieve, driven at considerable speed on a large flat iron boiler, heated by steam, where it is boiled to a proper stiffness. It is then passed through a pug-mill, and is ready for use. Mr. Knowles’s are the only works in Brampton where this process is adopted.

“The Pottery.”—These works were established, in 1810, by “Messrs. Oldfield, Madin, Wright, Hewitt & Co.,” by whom they were carried on. After various changes and retirements, Mr. John Oldfield became, in 1838, sole proprietor of the works, and under his name they continue at the present time. The works have from time to time been considerably extended; they are now nearly the largest in the district, and employ a large number of hands. The goods manufactured are the usual descriptions known as “New Brampton” or “Chesterfield ware,” or, as more frequently falsely called in the London and other markets, “Nottingham ware,”—a remarkably hard, compact, and durable salt-glazed brown ware; and stoneware, which is dipped in different “slips.” In “brown ware,” the principal goods produced are dishes and bowls of various kinds; turtle, beef, butter, Dutch, stew, sauce, and other pots; bottlesand jars of all shapes and sizes, and for all uses; pitchers and jugs in endless variety; churns: milk-pans and pancheons; nappies and porringers; tea and coffee-pots; Welsh trays; carriage and feet-warmers; hare-pans and dog-troughs; spirit and wine-barrels and kegs; figured flower-pots and stands; scent jars; “hunting,” “cottage,” “tulip,” and other figured jugs and mugs; moulds for puddings, blanc-mange, jellies, &c., of great beauty and of excellent and even artistic design, and many other articles. In “antique ware,” Mr. Oldfield makes remarkably effective and well-designed hunting, game, cottage, tulip, and other jugs; figured Stilton-cheese stands; fruit-dishes and trays; tea and coffee-pots; tobacco-pots, some of which, with goblet and candlestick, are very striking; watch-stands; “Toby Fill-pot” jugs; small figures of stags, dogs, &c.; grotesque and twisted pipes; puzzle-jugs, &c. In stoneware many articles are also produced, the great bulk being bottles and spirit kegs of various kinds and of every size, from one pint up to ten or more gallons in capacity; and sanitary goods.

Filters also form a staple branch of the manufacture, and these are filted up on an exceedingly good principle, with vegetable charcoal, sand, &c., on the premises, and are supplied in large quantities both at home and for exportation. The manufacture of filters was here commenced in 1826.

The clays used and the processes observed in the manufacture may be briefly alluded to as follows:—

Five kinds of clay are here used, viz.,Barclay, which is procured from Stanedge, near Wingerworth. This clay is used to make the arches which are technically called “Bars,” and two of them form nearly a semicircle that spans from side to side of the ovens and whereon the pots are placed.Setting-clayis a clay that is found on the peat-moss, near Stanedge, and is quite of a sandy nature: it acquires the name from its being rolled by the hands into “nobs” and placed upon the “Bars” to “set” the pots upon; unless this was used, the pots would have to be broken to get them off the “Bars.” TheLidd-clay(what is commonly called Fire-clay) is used in the lower parts of the “Ovens” or “Kilns,” because of its being stronger to resist the fire; this clay is procured from Loads, near Holymoorside, about two miles from Brampton. The next clay is theBrampton-claywhich is burnt in the upper portion of the “Ovens,” because it will not stand the amount of fire that the Lidd-clay will, although it is of a much closer body, and, when glazed, will resist the action of any acids.Mixed-clayis burnt in the middle portion of the “Ovens;” it is, as its name implies, a mixture of the Brampton and Lidd-clay, of each about equal portions to suit the fire or heat in that portion of the ovens.

At these works spirit bottles of a similar character to the one engraved on Fig.105were made. One was a representation of Lord Brougham, with the words, “The true Spirit of Reform.”

Among the marks used by this firm are—

ESTABLISHED1826J. OLDFIELD & CO.CHESTERFIELDWATER FILTERMANUFACTURERS,WHOLESALE AND RETAILAND FOREXPORTATION.

OLDFIELD & COMAKERS

OLDFIELD & CO.CHESTERFIELD.

J. OLDFIELD.

Figs. 99 to 102.

TheWalton Potterywas built by William Briddon, the grandfather of the present proprietor, in 1790, and at his death was continued by his son, William Briddon. This gentleman died in 1848, and was succeeded by his son, William Briddon, the present proprietor. It has consequently, from the first to the present moment, been carried on by three generations of William Briddons. The goods made are brown ware and stoneware in all their varieties. In these are produced stew, souse, turtle, beef, and butter pots; jugs of every variety; preserve and pickle jars; pancheons, bowls, and cullenders; porringers and patty-pans; bottles of every conceivable size and shape; filters; spirit-barrels and kegs; foot-bottles and carriage-warmers; tea and coffee-pots; twisted and grotesque pipes, and many other articles. In quality they are much the same as those of other Brampton manufactories.

Wheatbridge Pottery.—These works have been in the family of their present proprietor for three generations. They are now carried on by Mrs. J. Walton Wright, the widow of the late proprietor. The staple trade of the manufactory is general brown ware for the Dutch markets.

TheAlma Potterywas commenced by its present proprietor, Mr. Samuel Lowe, and his then partners, about 1852. After a few years Mr. Lowe’s two partners withdrew from the concern, and it has continued in his hands solely to the present time. The goods produced are the same general kinds, both of wares and articles, as the other Brampton potteries. In brown ware and in stoneware Mr. Lowe produces filters, bottles of every kind and size, jugs and mugs, jars of various descriptions, and all the articles usually produced in these wares, and of the same general quality as those of other works in the district.

Barker Pottery

, belonging to Mr. Henry Briddon. Here all the usual articles in brown ware are made.

The Potteryof Mr. William Briddon, Jun., produces the usual kinds of wares, and most of the articles, of the district.

TheLondon Pottery, belonging to Messrs. F. Lipscombe & Co., of London, was established by them for the purpose of manufacturing their filters.

At Whittington, pot works have existed from an early date, and are still continued. At these much good ware and many specialities of design, &c., were produced; it is only necessary to premise that the goods are commonly known by the general term of “Chesterfield ware” or “Nottingham ware”—it being a fact that London houses still sell, and persist in calling, the products of these Derbyshire works by the latter name.

The Whittington Potteries[32]are of very old establishment, having been in existence since about the middle or latter end of the seventeenth century, if not longer. Here the ordinary brown ware of the period was manufactured; the ware being of extreme hardness and closeness of texture, and having a rich warm reddish-brown colour. About the year 1800, and for some years later, the works, which were near the race-course, were held by Mr. William Bromley, who, in addition to the ordinary brown ware, made also a white, or cream-coloured, earthenware of fine quality. In this fine body he manufactured dinner, tea, and other services, principally decorated, in the prevailing manner, with transfer-printing in blue. He also practised batt-printing for some of his goods. Mr. Bromley also made some experiments in, and succeeded in producing, a very good china ware, but he did not prosecute this branch of manufacture to any extent. At that time, when Mr. Bromley was making the fine earthenware, and was experimenting on porcelain bodies, my late father, Mr. Arthur Jewitt,then a young man, was residing at Brampton, and was in habits of close intimacy with him. My father being a man of scientific, as well as of high literary attainments, and being, moreover, a good artist, took considerable interest in his friend Mr. Bromley’s manufacture, and at his own house at Brampton entered with spirit into a series of experiments in enamelling and enamel-printing, and in other processes for decorating the wares. For this purpose he caused to be erected in his own house two enamel kilns, one of which he had constructed on the ordinary simple principle of heating, and the other on the spiral principle. He also fitted up, for the purpose of these private experiments, a small printing-room, and here, being, as I have said, a good artist, he tried various processes for transferring aquatints and etchings (which he etched and prepared himself) by the batt-process, both on to the biscuit and on to the white glazed ware. By this process he produced many remarkably successful transfers; but, like the boy who dug up the seeds in his garden day by day, to see if they were sprouting, and so killed them, he was always so impatient to see the result of his experiments that he did not wait for the fire in the kilns to die out, but opened the doors, and so frequently spoiled all the pieces. Sufficient, however, remained each time to show that he was right in his experiments, and that his trials were all that could be desired.

Fig. 103.

Besides transfer-printing, he tried some interesting experiments in surface-painting on the biscuit. Only one example of this ware is known to exist, and this fortunately is now in my own possession. It is here engraved (Fig.103). It bears a view of (I believe) Renishaw Hall, and part of the park, with deer, &c. The body is extremely light, and the painting highly artistic. It is simply surface-painted on the biscuit. It is a small flower-pot, or “bow-pot,” and saucer, and is only 3⅜ inches in height.

These experiments are highly interesting in connection with the Whittington and Brampton potteries. They were very successful, and showed that had my father devoted his time and his talents to the process, great results would have been achieved. As it was,he prosecuted his inquiries as an amateur only, and from a simple love of the art, and his name, until I made it known in theArt-Journala few years ago, has never been publicly associated with the fictile history of the country. I felt that it was due to the memory of one of the most talented of men, and the best of parents, that I should place his name on record in connection with an art in which, for a short time, in midst of a busy literary life,[33]he took such a lively interest.

Mr. Bromley continued the works for some years, when they changed hands. He was a man of great ability and of much spirit, and did more to further the standard of excellence of the works in his district than any of his contemporaries. He had three sons, Rev. Samuel Bromley, who was a poet of no ordinary stamp, and was a Baptist missionary to Jamaica and other countries; Joseph Bromley, who entered the army; and the Rev. James Bromley, whose name is well known in connection with the Wesleyan persuasion. The works afterwards belonged to Messrs. Robert Bainbrigge & Co. The pot-works at Whittington, in the early part of the present century, were carried on by Mr. William Johnson and Mr. Aaron Madin. At the present time there are two manufactories at this place; viz. those of Mr. Samuel Lancaster, successor to Mr. Madin, and Mr. James Pearson.

Stone Bottle Works.—These works, at Whittington Moor, were established in 1818 by Mr. Aaron Madin, and they are now carried on in his name by his son-in-law, Mr. Samuel Lancaster. The goods produced are in stoneware, brown ware, and coarse black ware. The stoneware is made of fire-clay, found underneath the Tupton coal-measures at Brampton and elsewhere, and glazed with the usual compound of flint, Paris white, Cornwall stone, barytes, and ground glass. It is of good quality, and very hard and durable. The ground ware is, as is usual in the district, salt-glazed; and the black ware, which is made of the common brick-clay, is glazed chiefly with lead-ore. The goods produced are the usual domestic and other articles made in the neighbourhood, and their quality is equal to most others.

Whittington Pottery.—At these works, belonging to Mr. James Pearson, the usual classes of goods, as made at the other potteries of the district, are produced.

Whittington Moor Pottery.—Mr. S. Lancaster (late A. Madin) has a manufactory of coarse pancheon ware at this place; the body, as usual, coarse red outside, and lined with a black glaze inside.

There is a manufactory of coarse brown ware—pancheons, bread-pans, stein-pots, &c.,—carried on by Mr. W. Sharratt at this place. The productions are of much the same character as those of Whittington Moor, Tickenhall, &c.

Pilkington in 1789 says, “A manufacture of sickles is carried on. There are also two potteries in the town.”

About the middle or towards the latter part of last century, a small manufactory of common coarse brown ware existed here, and about 1800 Mr. William Bourne took to the works carried on by Messrs. Blood, Webster, and Simpson, at Belper Pottery. Mr. William Bourne, sen., was, it appears, very much engaged in the business of the then new canal. Letters of his, and of his son, William Bourne, jun., in which reference is made to his connection with the canal, and show business transactions between them and Mr. Duesbury of the Derby China Works, are in my own possession. Mr. Bourne carried on the manufacture of salt-glazed blacking, ink, ginger-beer, and spirit bottles. The ordinary brown ware, produced from a less vitreous clay, found on the spot, consisted of bowls, pans, pancheons, dishes, pitchers, and all the commoner varieties of domestic vessels, and these were of excellent and durable quality. The stoneware bottles, &c., were made from a finer and more tenacious bed of clay, at Denby, a few miles distant. The finer, or figured wares, were made from clay procured from Staffordshire. By Mr. Bourne all these descriptions of goods were made, but he principally confined himself to the manufacture of stoneware bottles of various kinds. A good antique-shaped hunting jug, and other similar articles, with figures in relief, was alsoextensively made. In 1812, Mr. Joseph Bourne (son of William Bourne) took to the Denby Pottery (which see) then carried on by Mr. Jäger, and the two works were carried on simultaneously until 1834, when the Belper Pottery was finally closed, the workpeople, plant, and business being removed to Denby, and incorporated with those works, and the premises converted into cottages. From that time no pottery has been made at Belper. The site of the works was at Belper-Gutter, and “Pot-House Lane,” the name of one of the streets, perpetuates the manufacture.

BELPHER & DENBYBOURNESPOTTERIESDERBYSHIREFig. 104.

BELPHER & DENBYBOURNESPOTTERIESDERBYSHIRE

Fig. 104.

WILLIAM,IV,TH’SREFORM CORDIAL.Figs. 105 and 106.

WILLIAM,IV,TH’SREFORM CORDIAL.

Figs. 105 and 106.

The mark used while these works were carried on in conjunction with those at Denby was this; and it may be well to remark that a series of political bottles, bearing representations of various Reform leaders, were made. On these the head of the individual—the King, Sir Francis Burdett, Earl Grey, or whomsoever was intended—formed the neck of the bottle, and the arms and bust the shoulder; political references, and the name of the political leader, were impressed on the clay. One of these, which represents the King (William IV.) is engraved on Fig.105. It bears in front the words “WILLIAM IV.’S REFORM CORDIAL,”—the “cordial” being the brandy orother spirit it was intended to contain. Another is a representation, in smaller form, of Lord John Russell (afterwards Earl Russell); it bears, in front, the name “LORD JOHN RUSSELL,” and on a scroll which he holds in his hand are inscribed the words, “THE TRUE SPIRIT OF REFORM.” At the back is the mark Fig.104. At these works too, I believe, quaintly designed inkstands, of which Fig.106is an example, were made. The projecting lower jaw formed the well for the ink, while holes on the shoulders served for places to put the pens in when not in use. They were made of the ordinary vitrified stoneware.

In 1827 a coarse-ware pottery was carried on here by Mr. Heapey.

The pottery at Codnor Park was built in the year 1820, by the world-renowned Butterley Iron Company, the owners of the famed iron works of Butterley and Codnor Park. At this time the Butterley works were under the management of the late Mr. William Jessop, son of one of the partners, and afterwards senior partner of the firm. Some years before this time the Company had constructed a large cast-iron bridge for the Nabob of Oude, and on its despatch a brother of Mr. William Jessop accompanied it to India to superintend its erection, taking with him several workmen, among whom was an engine-fitter named William Burton. From some cause or other the bridge was not erected by the Nabob, and after remaining several years in India, the parties returned to England. On their return, this William Burton was induced to commence the pottery, and having engaged a skilled workman from the Brampton Potteries, near Chesterfield, he commenced operations in 1821. The pottery was situated near the Codnor Park Iron Works, from which it took its name, and pretty close to the Butterley Canal, and was successfully carried on for several years. Sir Richard Phillips, in his “Tour,” in 1828, thus notes the pottery:—

“Over near Codnor Castle, I viewed a rough and ill-built manufactory, where they turn and bake those opaque bottles used for ginger-beer, soda-water, liquid blacking, &c. About 50 women and children finish 100 gross per day, and they sell the pints at 15d.and 16d.per doz., and all pints at 2s., and quarts at 3s.6d.They are made of the clay of the vicinity, and the agent for selling them is Kemp, in Milk Street, London. They are harder and less liable to burst than glass bottles.”

In 1832, Mr. Burton having got into pecuniary difficulties, theworks were closed. After remaining unworked for many months, the concern was, in 1833, taken by Mr. Joseph Bourne, of the Denby Pottery. They gave employment to about sixty persons.

The Codnor Park Works were carried on by Mr. Bourne until 1861, when they were finally closed, and the workmen, plant, &c. were transferred to the Denby Works, where additional work-rooms had been erected for their accommodation.

The clay was of a similar kind to that used at Denby, but owing to a larger impregnation of iron the ware produced therefrom was not equal in appearance to that made at Denby, though the bottles were highly vitreous, and had an extensive sale. This clay was obtained at Cupet Green, in the immediate neighbourhood, and the coal from Birchwood Colliery. (The hard coal is the only kind adapted for burning in the salt-glazed kilns.) London was the chief market, the crates being forwarded by canal.

The classes of goods produced at Codnor Park were all the usual classes of household vessels, and also stoneware bottles of various kinds, and of all sizes up to six gallons, and pans, bowls, jugs, pitchers, and other articles. Besides these, however, a remarkably fine, compact, light, and delicate buff-coloured terra-cotta was produced. In this were made butter-coolers, vases of various kinds, flower-baskets and pots, ewers, spill-cases, and numberless other articles. Many of these were of excellent design, and beautifully decorated with foliage and other ornaments in relief. Puzzle-jugs, &c. were also made of this material, and surface-painted with a peculiar mottled effect. The mark during Mr. Burton’s time was his name and “Codnor Park,” or simply the name “Wm. Burton,” impressed on the clay. The manufacture of ordinary household earthenware was discontinued when Mr. Bourne took to the concern, his operations being confined to the manufacture of bottles. For some of this information I am indebted to Mr. Humphrey Goodwin (through Mr. Bourne of Codnor Park), who was connected with the works from their opening in 1821 until their close.

The “Denby Pottery” is situated in the parish of Denby, seven miles from Derby and two from Ripley,—a village memorable as being the birthplace of Flamstead, the astronomer,—in the midst of the rich ironstone and coal-fields of Derbyshire, the former of which are said to have been regularly worked from the time of theRomans.[34]The works were commenced in 1809 by a Mr. Jäger, on the estate of W. Drury Lowe, Esq., where, some time before, a valuable and extensive bed of clay had been found to exist. This clay, previous to the establishment of the Denby Works, was used at the Belper Pottery, for the manufacture of stoneware ink, blacking, and other bottles. The Denby clay was also supplied to the Derby China Works, in considerable quantities, where it was used for saggers, and for a few other articles which were produced. In 1812, Mr. Joseph Bourne, son of William Bourne, of the Belper Pottery, succeeded Mr. Jäger, and the Belper and Denby works were carried on simultaneously until 1834, when the Belper Works were discontinued, and the plant and workpeople removed to Denby. The works were at this time much increased, and gradually extended their operations. In 1833, the Codnor Park Works (which see) passed into the hands of Mr. Bourne, and were carried on by him, along with those of Denby, until 1861, when they were closed, and the workpeople, plant, &c., as in the case of the Belper Works, removed to Denby. Considerable additions were made for this increase of workpeople, and the manufactory was much extended. In 1845, Mr. Bourne also became possessed of the Shipley Pottery (which see), and in 1856 removed those works to Denby. With the Denby Pottery are therefore incorporated those of Belper, Codnor Park, and Shipley.

Mr. Joseph Bourne having taken his son, Joseph Harvey Bourne, into partnership, the business was carried on under the style of Joseph Bourne and Son, and has so continued until the present day. Joseph Bourne died in 1860, and his son in 1869, and the works are still carried on, under the old trading style, by the family. In 1851 a medal was awarded to Mr. Bourne for his stone bottles.

In addition to the extensions required from time to time at Denby to provide for these continual augmentations arising from the closing of the smaller works, the business has so extended as to necessitate considerable additions and improvements. Excellent machinery has been applied to the blunging and other processes, and instead of the old process of getting rid of the water from the slip by evaporation, the clay is obtained therefrom by the patented process invented by Messrs. Needham and Kite, Vauxhall,London, ten of their presses being employed, turning out at least 25 tons per day of workable clay. The class of ware produced has not varied to any extent, though an advance in shape and quality is evident from a comparison with some of the earlier specimens extant. The great bulk of the stoneware produced by Messrs. Bourne and Son is the kind known as the salt-glazed stoneware, which, on account of its peculiar vitreous and non-absorbent qualities, is in great demand not only in the home market, but in all parts of the world. About the year 1836 a considerable change was made in the size and form of the salt-glazed kilns, and for these improvements Mr. Joseph Bourne obtained a patent. The old kilns were only half the height of the present ones, and had each five chimneys. To these, what may be called an upper storey has been added, and, while the lower half is fired by mouths opening into the kiln and the flame passingperpendicularly up the kiln, the upper portion is fed by fires passing out of the kiln by means offlues at the side, and the modern kilns have only one chimney, thus securing a better consumption of smoke and lessening the objectionable results which would follow from such a dense volume of smoke proceeding from a low chimney. Since this patent was taken out an additional improvement has been made by the erection on the top of each kiln of a separate small oven, in which biscuit or terra-cotta fancy articles can be burnt, these being simply burnt by the heat passing up the chimney and from the top of the kiln, but no flame or salt-glaze reaching the goods. Much thought and care as well as considerable expense have been expended during the last twenty years to perfect the manufacture of telegraph insulators, and the very large business transactions in this department proves that the enterprise of the firm has not been fruitless.

Messrs. Bourne and Son have for many years possessed the exclusive right to manufacture Mr. Varley’s Patent Double V. Insulators, and since the transfer of the telegraphs to the Government, the firm have executed immense quantities for that department of the public service. A demand having recently arisen for white-glazed ink and other bottles, additional appliances have been provided on the most approved and modern principles, which have enabled the firm to produce a class of ware of this description unrivalled alike for its excellence and appearance.

Figs. 107 to 109.

The main productions of the works are as follows:—

In bottles, which are the staple production, almost every variety are manufactured in large quantities both in the patented vitreous stone, and white glazed, varieties of ink-bottles of every shape and size are made by thousands weekly, as are also ale, porter, ginger-beer, blacking, fruit, and every other kind of bottles. Spirit and other liquor bottles, with handles, up to a very large size, are also made. Feet-warmers, carriage-warmers, and medical appliances, with or without patent screw stoppers; spittoons, tobacco-jars, churns, mortars and pestles, pipkins, bird fountains, inkstands, feeding-bottles, candlesticks, pork-pie moulds, and every variety of domestic vessels, are made. Druggists’ shop-jars, snuff-jars, spirit-barrels, pudding-moulds, &c., many of them highly ornamented, are also made. The filters are of excellent construction, and good form, and are made to purify from 5 to 30 gallons per day each.

“Hunting Jugs”—a name by which a certain class of jugs with raised ornaments consisting of hunting subjects, sometimes a stag, at others a fox, chased by horsemen and dogs; and with other relief subjects of trees, bee-hives, windmills, and men seated smoking or drinking, &c., are called—are made here to a greatextent, and of the hardest and most durable quality, and with an excellent glaze. Some of these are made with greyhound handles of very clever and effective design, of the class shown on Fig.98. Upright jugs, or canettes, of the same general character, are also made, as are also plain jugs. Jars, too, are a staple branch of the Denby manufacture, and for preserves, pickles, jellies, marmalades, &c., are considered to be of the best quality. They are made of the most approved shapes, and of every variety of size, covered and uncovered; one great advantage of this make being the great width of the mouth, ensuring cleanliness, and preventing the waste that occurs with an overhanging shoulder. The same remark holds good with regard to the stew-pots.

In terra-cotta, which is of a remarkably light and fine quality, and of a warm buff colour, many elegant articles are made. These are flower vases of various designs, lotus vases, garden and other vases, wine-coolers, water-bottles, ewers with snake handles, flower-stands, Stilton-cheese stands and trays, fern stands, fonts, Indian scent jars, butter coolers, mignionette boxes, and many other articles of artistic excellence.

The marks used by the Denby Pottery are as follows:—

Figs. 110 to 113.

VITREOUS STONE BOTTLEBOURNE & SONPATENTEES,DENBY POTTERYNEAR DERBY.

BELPER & DENBYBOURNES,POTTERYDERBYSHIRE.

J. BOURNE & SON.PATENTEESDENBY POTTERIESNEAR DERBY.

J. BOURNE & SON.PATENTEE SDENBY POTTERYNEAR DERBY.

But besides these, which, by the way, are only used upon some of the goods, the great bulk being made without any mark at all, there are others which it is not necessary to particularise.

These works were commenced about 1825 on the estate of Edward Miller Mundy, Esq., of Shipley Hall, by whom the buildingswere erected, in consequence of the discovery of valuable beds of clay. They were first carried on by some working potters from the Staffordshire district, and the ordinary classes of goods in “cane” or “yellow” ware were produced, as were also Rockingham ware tea-pots and other articles. These were made to a considerable extent, and of good quality, but the works did not answer. They were next taken by a Mr. Waite, a blacking manufacturer, from London, who commenced making stoneware bottles for his own blacking, and other articles of general use. Eventually, in 1845, the works passed into the hands of Mr. Bourne, of the Denby pottery, and were carried on by him. The clay at Shipley was of two kinds—one was obtained from the hard seam coal after the coal was worked, at a depth of 250 yards. This was of a beautiful and extremely fine quality, but was of itself difficult to work owing to a want of tenacity. It was found, however, that by using in equal proportions this clay and another known as the Waterloo seam, which was about 100 yards from the surface, an excellent body was produced. At this period the coal mines on the estate furnished saline and chalybeate waters, which were much in repute; and bottles, specially designed for these waters, were made in large quantities at these works. Some of these bottles are still preserved, and are of excellent material. They bear impressed on the side a garter ribbon, on which are the wordsenclosing the nameSHIPLEY SALINE WATERin three lines. In 1856 the Shipley pottery was closed; the workmen, plant, &c., being removed to, and incorporated with, the Denby pottery.

During the last, and the early part of the present century, brown ware of common quality, and red-ware pancheons, &c., were made at Alfreton, but have long been discontinued. Pilkington, who wrote in 1789, says, “There are also here six malt offices, and two potteries of the brown earthen ware.” The site of the last of these pot sheds, I am informed by Mr. Rowbottom, was purchased, in 1845, by the Gas Company, for their works, and during the progress of building, &c., only the commonest brown ware was seen.

Somewhat extensive pot works existed here, on Morewood Moor,in the middle and latter part of last century, or probably much earlier. In 1763 they belonged to a Mr. Thomas Dodd, who in that year became bankrupt. The estates were somewhat extensive, and their sale—land and houses, &c.—covered three days. The sale was “at the house of Mr. Jonathan Kendall, known by the sign of the Peacock, near Alfreton, in Derbyshire.” The following is a copy of the description of the lots in which the pot works occur:—

Lot 1. A large commodious Dwelling House, called Crich Pot House, standing in Wheatcroft, within the said parish of Crich, together with the Garden, walled round, and planted with Wall Fruit, and a Summer House within; and all the Outhouses, Barns, Stables, Cowhouses, Workrooms, Pot furnace, Warehouses and other Edifices therto belonging. And also those six several closes or parcels of enclosed land lying and being in Wheatcroft aforesaid, therto adjoining and belonging, containing by estimation about 38 acres, and being tythe free and paying a chief rent of Two pence halfpenny per ann. And also the Potter’s Clay upon all the commons or waste grounds within the Manor of Lea (within which Manor the before mentioned premises lie), all which are now in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Wheldon, or his assigns.Lot 2. A Leasehold estate for the reversion of a term of 99 years, which commenced at Lady Day, 1744, of one acre of Land to be fenced out of the South-east corner of a certain Close in Wheatcroft aforesaid, commonly called Agnes, otherwise Annis Bottom, under the yearly rent of one pound. Upon which said acre of Land there is now built and standing a good new Pot House, with Workrooms, Pot furnace, Warehouses, and all other Edifices and Apartments necessary for a Pottery, now also in the possession of the said Mr. Wheldon.Lot 3. A Close (being formerly three Closes) in Plaistow, within the parish of Crich aforesaid, containing about 8 acres, being tythe free, together with a Windmill, Kiln for drying Corn, and Blacksmith’s Shop, standing thereupon, being only separated from the fold-yard of the aforesaid house, called Crich Pot-house, by a narrow Lane (called Dark Lane) which said Close pays a Chief rent of £6 per ann., and is now in the holding of the said Mr. Wheldon.Lot 4. A Dwelling House with a Barn and Cowhouse, and two Closes of Land adjoining, tythe free, in Plaistow aforesaid, containing about five acres, paying only a Chief rent of 4d. per ann., and now in the occupation of John Bacon and Mr. Thomas Wheldon.Lot 5. A Messuage, House, Barn, and Stable, Two Cowhouses, and other Edifices in Wheatcroft aforesaid, and also a large Orchard, planted with Fruit Trees, and six several Closes therto belonging, tythe free, containing about 18 acres, formerly in the holding of William Street, deceased, paying a Chief rent of Two pence halfpenny per ann., and subject to an annuity of Twenty shillings a year, payable thereout to the Vicar of Crich, for the time being. N.B.—There’s a large quantity of Potter’s Clay in this Farm.

Lot 2. A Leasehold estate for the reversion of a term of 99 years, which commenced at Lady Day, 1744, of one acre of Land to be fenced out of the South-east corner of a certain Close in Wheatcroft aforesaid, commonly called Agnes, otherwise Annis Bottom, under the yearly rent of one pound. Upon which said acre of Land there is now built and standing a good new Pot House, with Workrooms, Pot furnace, Warehouses, and all other Edifices and Apartments necessary for a Pottery, now also in the possession of the said Mr. Wheldon.

Lot 3. A Close (being formerly three Closes) in Plaistow, within the parish of Crich aforesaid, containing about 8 acres, being tythe free, together with a Windmill, Kiln for drying Corn, and Blacksmith’s Shop, standing thereupon, being only separated from the fold-yard of the aforesaid house, called Crich Pot-house, by a narrow Lane (called Dark Lane) which said Close pays a Chief rent of £6 per ann., and is now in the holding of the said Mr. Wheldon.

Lot 4. A Dwelling House with a Barn and Cowhouse, and two Closes of Land adjoining, tythe free, in Plaistow aforesaid, containing about five acres, paying only a Chief rent of 4d. per ann., and now in the occupation of John Bacon and Mr. Thomas Wheldon.

Lot 5. A Messuage, House, Barn, and Stable, Two Cowhouses, and other Edifices in Wheatcroft aforesaid, and also a large Orchard, planted with Fruit Trees, and six several Closes therto belonging, tythe free, containing about 18 acres, formerly in the holding of William Street, deceased, paying a Chief rent of Two pence halfpenny per ann., and subject to an annuity of Twenty shillings a year, payable thereout to the Vicar of Crich, for the time being. N.B.—There’s a large quantity of Potter’s Clay in this Farm.

“The Potters’ Clay Delph,” or “Delph of Pot Clay,” is also stated to go through two other of the lots.

Mr. Robinson, who has searched into matters regarding the Crich Pottery, gives me the following particulars. They were situated near the “Pot-House Farm,” as the place is still called. The buildings still remain and are known as the “Pot-House Hillocks.” After the bankruptcy of Thomas Dodd, the works were carried on by George Bacon, and at his death passed into the hands of his son,Edward Bacon, who gave up the earthenware manufacture and converted the place into a brickyard; this also he closed about 1810. Of the ware made here, which appears to have been brown ware, like that of Brampton, nothing reliable is known. A posset-pot, formerly belonging to the landlord of the Horse and Groom, a public-house a mile off, is said to be an undoubted example; it bears the names of the then landlord and his wife—“John and Mary Wood, 1794.” A spill-board weight, bearing on one side the date 1760, with initials, and on the other the initials G B (supposed to be George Bacon) and a fleur-de-lis, is also supposed to have been made here.

Langley Mill Pottery.—This pottery was established by its present owner, Mr. James Calvert, in 1865, and was the first established in the neighbourhood. The productions are vitrified stoneware of similar character and quality to that of Messrs. Bourne at Denby. In this ware a large trade is done in ginger-beer, ink, beer, and other bottles, and all the usual domestic vessels—jars, pitchers, hot-water bottles, foot-warmers, jugs, mugs, &c.—are produced from clay found in the neighbourhood. The works are extensive and well arranged, consisting of three kilns for brown ware and one for Bristol ware.

The “Ilkeston Potteries” were established by the late Mr. George Evans in 1807, and were carried on by him until his decease, in 1832, when he was succeeded by his son, Mr. Richard Evans, the present sole proprietor of the concern. At first, and during the lifetime of Mr. George Evans, Derbyshire stone bottles alone were made, and these are still manufactured to a large extent. By the present proprietor the buildings have been considerably increased, and a general pottery added for the production of useful articles in stoneware and ornamental terra-cotta goods. The present productions of the works are in stoneware bottles, jars, pans, &c., of all sizes and of every usual form; filters of an improved construction; carriage, foot, and other warmers; sanitary pipes, and ware of every kind, &c., &c.; and in terra-cotta, vases, pedestals, flower and tree boxes and pots,garden-edgings, chimney-tops, &c., of various designs, and all the more usual productions of fire-clay goods.

The village of Pinxton (a large parish in East Derbyshire, close on the borders of Nottinghamshire) is principally inhabited by colliers and other “hardy sons of toil,” who work in the ironstone mines and at the furnaces of the neighbourhood. The manor belongs to the family of Coke, the same family as the Cokes of Trusley and the Cokes of Melbourne, and to one of this family, John Coke, Esq., the establishment of the china works is owing. Mr. John Coke was the youngest brother of D’Ewes Coke, Esq., the lord of the manor; the second brother being Sir William Coke, Judge of the Supreme Court, Ceylon, who died at Trincomalee, in Ceylon. The present head of the family is Lieut.-Col. E. T. Coke, of Debdale. Mr. John Coke, who was born in 1775, passed several of the early years of his life at Dresden, and there, doubtless, acquired that love for porcelain ware which induced him to commence the manufactory at Pinxton on his return to this country. Having an idea that some clays found on the family estates near Pinxton might be made available for the manufacture of china ware, Mr. Coke entered into correspondence with Mr. Duesbury, of the Derby China Works, and sent him samples of his clays for trial and experiment. Whatever encouragement or otherwise he received from Mr. Duesbury—and I have reason to believe that encouragement wasnotgiven—the result of his own convictions and his own trials, &c., determined Mr. Coke on starting the works, and he ultimately made an engagement with William Billingsley, of the Derby China Works (which see, page 102); and having built a somewhat large and very conveniently arranged factory, commenced the manufacture of china ware in 1796.

William Billingsley was the son of William and Mary Billingsley, of the parish of St. Alkmund, Derby. In 1774 he was apprenticed by his widowed mother to Mr. Duesbury, the proprietor of the Derby China Manufactory, for five years, “to learn the art of painting upon china or porcelain ware,” as I have already shown in my notice of Billingsley on page 101,ante. In 1796 he left the Derby China Works, where he had been employed for the long period of twenty-two years, and removed to Pinxton, occupying, with his wife, his wife’s mother, and two daughters, a part of the factory built by Mr. Coke. Here Billingsley succeeded in producingthat beautiful granular body which he afterwards perfected at Nantgarw and at Swansea; and here, too, stimulated by Mr. Coke’s good taste, he introduced faultless forms in his services and a high style of excellence in decoration. He brought with him several experienced workmen and artists from the Derby Works, and took into the factory, and instructed, several young people of Pinxton and its neighbourhood. His own time was thus so fully occupied with the management of the works, with the arrangement of the concern, and with the “overlooking” of the persons employed, that, unfortunately, his own skill and his own splendid colouring of roses and other flowers were lost to the manufacture; and thus we do not find that the expressed fear of his late Derby employers that “his going into another factory will put them in the way of doing flowers in the same way, which they are at present entirely ignorant of,” was sustained. In fact, while employed by Mr. Duesbury, Billingsley was in every way master of the art he had been taught; and he had acquired a peculiar method—entirely peculiar to himself—of painting roses which, with his free and truly artistic grouping and harmonious arrangement of colours, made his pieces so much sought after, that orders were constantly sent in for objects “painted with Billingsley’s flowers.” At this period of course his whole time was devoted to painting, and his heart was in his work. After leaving his employer, his attention was naturally, in the new sphere in which he found himself at Pinxton, almost wholly given to thepracticalinstead of theArtportion of the establishment, and thus none, or scarcely any, of the known examples of Pinxton china bear evidence of being his handiwork. Indeed, it is not too much to say that, from the time when he closed his connection with the Derby Works, his Art-skill declined, but his manufacturing skill became more and more apparent.

The works at Pinxton were built by the side of the canal, and the workshops formed three sides of a square. These are still in existence at the present day, and are shown in the accompanying vignette, from a sketch made for the purpose. They are now converted into cottages, and are occupied by colliers and others. The kilns, &c., have entirely disappeared. The place and cottages are still called “China Square,” or “Factory Square.”

Through some misunderstanding or other, the arrangement between Messrs. Coke and Billingsley was not of long duration,and in a very few years—probably about 1800 or 1802—Billingsley left the place and removed to Mansfield, where, it is said, he for some time occupied himself in decorating and finishing china ware which he bought in the white state in Staffordshire. He afterwards, as I have already shown, removed to Torksey, Worcester, Nantgarw, Swansea, and Coalport, and died about 1827 or 1828.

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