Chapter VI (3)

In 1690 William Knight was a “Pottmaker” in “the parish of St. Buttolph without Aldgate, London,” and made “white ware.” In that year he had conveyed to him, by deed, some premises which were situated “by the river running from Merton Mill to Wandsworth, in the county of Surrey,” and consisted in part of a mill, “_used for a colour-mill for grinding colours for the glazeing of white ware_” made by him. The original deed, which is in my own possession, was first made public by me in my “Reliquary,” and is altogether one of the most interesting contributions to the history of the ceramic art in England which has of late been made. The deed is as follows:--

THIS INDENTURE, made the Tenth Day of March, ANNO DOM. 1690,
and in the Third Yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraigns Lord
and Lady William and Mary King and Queene of England Scotland
France and Ireland &c BETWEENE Mary Crispe of the parish of
St. Andrewe Holborne in the County of Middx Widow late wife of
Ellis Crispe late of Wimbledon in the County of Surry Esquire
Deceased and Samuel Crispe of the Inner Temple London Gent.
Son and Heire of the said Ellis Crispe of the One part And
William Knight of the Parish of St. Buttolph without Aldgate
London Pottmaker of the Other part WITNESSETH That For and in
Consideration of the Sume of Seaven Hundred Pounds of lawfull
mony of England heretofore to the said Ellis Crispe and the said
Mary Crispe (by the name of Mary his wife) or one of them paid
by the said William Knight And in Consideration of the Sume of
Five Shillings to the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe or
one of them in hand at or before th’ ensealing and delivery of
these presents by the said William Knight well and truly paid
The Receipt of which severall Sumes they the said Mary Crispe
and Samuel Crispe doe hereby respectively Acknowledge Testifie
and Declare And thereof and of and from every part and parcell
thereof Doe hereby severally and respectively Release Acquitt
and Discharge the said William Knight his Heirs Executors and
Administrators and every of them by these presents And in
pursuance of a Covenant for further Assurances of the Lands
Mill and Hereditaments hereinafter mentioned or intended to be
Released or Conveyed made by and from the said Ellis Crispe for
himself and for the said Mary Crispe (by the name of Mary his
wife) and for the Heires and Assigns of the said Ellis Crispe to
the said William Knight his Heires and Assignes Conteined in an
Indenture bearing date on or about the Four and Twentieth day
of July Anno Domini One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Three
and in the Five and Thirtieth Yeare of the Raigne of the late
King Charles the Second Made or mentoned to be made Between the
said Ellis Crispe and the said Mary Crispe (by the name of Mary
his wife) of the One part and the said William Knight of the
Other part And for diverse other good Causes and Consideratons
them the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe thereunto moueing
THEY the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe HAVE Bargained
Sold Released and Confirmed And by these presents Doe Bargaine
Sell Release and Confirme unto the said William Knight (in his
actuall possession now being) and to his Heires and Assignes
ALL Those Five Closes or Parcells of Meadow Ground Conteineing
by Estimation Fifteene Acres be the same more or lesse lyeing
neare and adjoyneing to the River running from Merton Mill to
Wandsworth in the County of Surry Together with the Mill Erected
on part of the said Fifteen Acres formerly used for a Fulling
Mill and Brasill Mill and now and of late used for a Colour
Mill for Grinding Colours for the Glazeing of White Ware And
also the Watercourses Ponds Mill Ponds Floodgates Wayes Waters
Comodityes and Appurtenances to the said Mill and Premises
or any of them belonging or of right apperteineing All which
Premises now are and late were in the tenure or occupaton of the
said William Knight his Tennants or Assignes And are Scituate
lyeing and being in the said Parish of Wimbledon in the said
County of Surrey AND also all the Land Mill and Hereditaments
with the appurtennces which in or by One Indenture bearing date
the Fourth day of November Anno Domini One Thousand Six Hundred
Seaventy and Three And in the Five and Twentieth Yeare of the
Raigne of the late King Charles the Second made Betweene the
said Ellis Crispe of the One part and John Campion of London
Pewterer and the said William Knight of the Other part were
or were mentoned to be demised granted and to Farm letten by
the said Ellis Crispe unto the said John Campion and William
Knight All which premises doe abutt on the Southside towards
the Highway on the Westside towards the Land late of the said
Ellis Crispe late in the occupaton of Joseph Walton William
Mason and Edward Hubbart on the Northside towards Biggery Road
and on the Eastside towards the Old River All which Land Mill
and Premises are Platted Sett out and drawne and butted and
bounded in a Plott or scheame to these presents annexed[56]
(EXCEPT and allwayes reserved out of this Present Release or
Conveyance unto the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe and the
Heires of the said Samuel The Royalty of Fishing and free leave
liberty and lycense to and for the said Mary Crispe and Samuel
Crispe and the Heires of the said Samuel and her his and their
Servants to come into and upon the premises hereby Released
or Conveyed to Fish at all seasonable and convenient times)
And the Revercon and Revercons Remainder and Remainders Rents
Issues and Profitts of all and singular the Premises and of
every part and parcell thereof And all the Estate Right Tythe
Interest Revercon Inheritance Trust Property Profit Clayme
and Demand whatsoever of them the said Mary Crispe and Samuel
Crispe or either of them of into and out of the Premises hereby
menconed or intended to be Released or Conveyed and every or
any part or parcell thereof Together with true Coppyes (to be
made at the costs and charges of the said William Knight his
Heirs or Assignes) of all such Deeds Evidences and Writeings
(now in the hands custody or possession of the said Mary Crispe
and Samuel Crispe or which they or either of them may or can
come at without Suite in Law) as doe relate to or concerne the
Premises hereby menconed or intended to be bargained and sold
joyntly with other the Lands Tenements or Hereditaments of them
the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe or either of them All
which Premises hereby menconed or intended to be bargained Sold
Released and Confirmed were heretofore bargained sold released
and confirmed or otherwise Conveyed unto the said William Knight
his Heires and Assignes to his and their own use and behoofe
for ever by and from the said Ellis Crispe and the said Mary
his wife by Indentures of Lease and Release bearing date the
Three and Twentieth and Four and Twentieth dayes of July Anno
Domini One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Three and in the
said Five and Thirtieth Yeare of the Raigne of the said late
King Charles the Second made or mencondd to be made Betweene
the said Ellis Crispe and the said Mary Crispe by the name of
Mary his wife of the One part and the said William Knight of
the Other part and by other good and sufficient Conveyances
or Assurances in the Law And also together with all Messuages
Tenements Houses Erectons and Buildings Sythence erected and
built upon the said Fifteen Acres of Land or any part thereof
with their Appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singular
the premises (Except before Excepted) Unto the said William
Knight his Heires and Assignes To the onely use and behoofe of
the said William Knight his Heires and Assignes for Ever and to
and for noe other use or uses intents or purposes whatsoever
And the said Mary Crispe for herselfe her Heires Executors and
Admstrators AND THE SAID Samuel Crispe for himselfe his Heires
Executors and Administrators Doe respectively Covenant and Agree
to and with the said William Knight his Heires and Assignes
by these presents That it shall and may be lawfull to and for
the said William Knight his Heires and Assignes peaceably and
quitely to Have Hold Occupy Possese and Enjoy the premises
with the appurtennces hereby bargained and sold or menconed to
be hereby bargained and sold and to receive have and take the
Rents Issues and Profitts thereof to his and their owne Use and
Uses without the lawful Lett Suite Trouble Molestation Eviction
Disturbance or Interrupton of or by the said Mary Crispe and
Samuel Crispe or either of them their or either of their Heires
or Assignes or the Heires and Assignes of the said Ellis Crispe
or the Heires or Assignes of Rowland Wilson Esquire Dec^d late
Grandfather of the said Ellis Crispe Or of or by any other
person or persons claymeing or to clayme by from or under the
said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe or by from or under the said
Ellis Crispe or Rowland Wilson or any or either of them in any
manner of wise And that Free and Cleare and freely and clearly
Acquitted Exonerated and Discharged Or otherwise by the said
Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe their Heires and Assignes from
time to time and at all times hereafter well and sufficiently
Saved Defended and kept harmelesse and Indempnifyed of and from
All and all manner of former and other Guifts Grants Bargaines
Sales or Conveyances (Other than such as are hereinbefore
menconed) Mortgages Joyntures Dowers Right and Tytle of Dower
Uses Wills Intayles Recognizances Statutes Merchant and of
the Staple Judgements Executons Extents Seizures Forfeitures
Debts to the Crowne and of and from all other Charges Estates
Tytles Troubles and Incumbrances whatsoever had made comitted
done or suffered or to be had made committed done or suffered
by the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe or either of them
respectively their Heires or Assignes or by the said Ellis
Crispe and Rowland Wilson or either of them or any clayming by
from or under them either or any of them in any manner of wise
AND FARTHER That the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe either
of them their and either of their Heires and Assignes and all
and every other person and persons claymeing or to clayme by
from or under the said Mary Crispe and Samuel Crispe or either
of them or the said Rowland Wilson or Ellis Crispe shall and
will from time to time and at all times hereafter within the
Space of Seaven Yeares at the Request Costs and Charges in the
Law of the said William Knight his Heires or Assignes make doe
acknowledge leavy execute and suffer or cause and procure to
be made done acknowledged leavyed executed and suffered unto
him and them such further or other lawfull and reasonable Act
and Acts Deed and Deeds Conveyance and Conveyances Assurance
and Assurances in the Law whatsoever for the further and better
Conveying Assureing Surety and Sure makeing of the Premises with
the appurtennces hereby bargained sold or released and every
part and parcell thereof unto the said William Knight his Heires
and Assignes to his and their owne use and uses Bee it by Fine
or Fines Recovery or Recoveryes with single double or treble
Voucher or Vouchers over Deed or Deeds Inrolled or not Inrolled
Release Confirmacon or by all or any of those wayes or meanes or
by any other wayes or meanes whatsoever As by the said William
Knight his Heires or Assignes or his or their Councell Learned
in the Laws shalbee reasonably devised or advised and required
Soe as such farther Assurance shall conteyne noe further or
other Warranty or Covenants then only against the partyes
thereunto and for and concerning their own acts only and soe as
the Person or Persons making such farther Assurance shall not
be Compelled or Compellable to Travell farther than the Citys
of London or Westminster in Case they Inhabit within Seaven
Miles thereof or else farther than Seaven Miles from the Place
of his or their abode for the doeing thereof AND IT IS hereby
Covenanted Declared and fully agreed by and betweene all and
every the Partyes to these presents for them and their Heires
That all and every Fine and Fines Conveyance and Conveyances
Assurance and Assurances in the Law whatsoever already had made
levyed acknowledged executed or suffered or hereafter to be had
made levyed acknowledged executed or suffered by or betweene
the said Partyes to these presents or whereunto they or any
of them are or shalbee Party or Partyes Of or concerning the
premises hereby menconed or intended to be Released or Confirmed
unto the said William Knight his Heires or Assignes intirely
by themselves or joyntly with any other Lands Tenements or
Hereditaments whatsoever shalbee and Enure and shall be adjudged
deemed construed expounded and taken to be and enure and is and
are hereby declared to be and enure as to the said severall
Closes Mill and other the premises with the appurtenaces hereby
menconed or intended to be Released or Conveyed To the use and
behoofe of the said William Knight his Heires and Assignes and
to and for noe other use or uses intents or purposes whatsoever
IN WITNESS whereof The said parties to these present Indentures
Interchangeably have Sett their Hands and Seales Dated the Day
and Yeare First above written.

MARY CRISPE. SAMUEL CRISPE.

The deed, which is sealed with the arms of Crispe, is thus attested on the back, “Sealed and Delivered in the presence of

JOHN WALKER, } Servts. to Saml. Crispe.
WALTER LOCKIE, }
BENJ: GLADMAN, Scr: in Lothbury, London.”

The William Knight, “pott maker,” of this deed was the same William Knight whose name appears three years later on, in 1693, along with those of Thomas Harper, Henry De Wilde, John Robins, and Moses Johnson--“all potters in London”--in the curious “Brief Account of the Evidence given on behalf of Edmund Warner” in a trial in the Court of Exchequer, concerning a parcel of Potter’s clay which had been wrongfully seized as Fuller’s-earth, given on page 134.

“Mary Crispe of the parish of St. Andrewe, Holborne, in the county of Middx., widow, late wife of Ellis Crispe, late of Wimbledon, in the county of Surry, Esquire, deceased, and Samuel Crispe of the Inner Temple, London, Gent., Son and Heire of the said Ellis Crispe,” were, there can be but little doubt, of the same family to which, later on, Crispe, the china manufacturer, belonged.

MILL-WALL.

Mr. Blashfield, now of the Stamford Terra-cotta Works, who had previously been engaged in the plastic, scagliola, and cement business, commenced the manufacture of terra-cotta vases, statues, chimney-shafts, &c., turning to good account the models he had used in his former business and those he had acquired from Coades. These works he carried on until 1858, when he removed to Stamford, in Lincolnshire, and opened his present large manufactory.

MORTLAKE.

Delft-ware works appear to have been in existence here in the seventeenth century. At the close of the eighteenth they were taken by Mr. Wagstaffe, of the Vauxhall Pottery, and passed with them to his nephew, Mr. Wisker, about the year 1804, and were by him continued for the manufacture of Delft and stone-wares until 1820 or 1821, when he removed the whole concern to Vauxhall. Two examples of Mortlake Delft-ware--a large punch-bowl, twenty-one inches in diameter, painted in blue, with birds, flowers, &c.; and a set of twelve tiles, also painted in blue, with landscape, ruins, figures, &c., are in the South Kensington Museum. They were removed from the old factory.

SOUTHWARK.

_Gravel Lane._--In the beginning of last century a pottery was carried on by Nathaniel Oade, connected with whom and whose business a shocking circumstance is detailed in the _Post Boy_ of March 1st, 1718. It appears that Oade had a family of four sons, who were determined to have the business and house made over to them, leaving him to exist on what property he had acquired. This he declined to do; when they swore they would have it in spite of him, and soon afterwards had him arrested on judgment in a sham action in the Marshalsea Court for £500, and thrown into prison. The sons then, with their vile attorney, conveyed arms and a store of provisions into the house, and at once turned their mother and servants out and barricaded the place. “In their rage they shot a woman who was passing by; also their own mother and a servant who would not give up possession of the books of account. The constables and the military at length arriving, they capitulated.” The youngest son and another man were executed for the murder; the others were found guilty of manslaughter. In 1750 the roof of a pottery belonging to Mr. Oade was thrown down by an earthquake, and an account of the circumstance was sent to the Royal Society by William Jackson, a potter.

ISLEWORTH.

The manufacture of porcelain at Isleworth was commenced by Joseph Shore in 1760, and was continued to be made about forty years. In 1795 Lysons says: “There is a china manufactory at Isleworth belonging to Messrs. Shore & Co.” In 1800 it was discontinued, but the stock is said to have remained on the premises until 1830, when the works, having in the meantime been used for the manufacture of earthenware--principally “Welsh” or “streaked” ware,--were closed. A few years afterwards the manufactory was removed to Hounslow, and the site converted to other purposes. Joseph Shore is said to have come from the Worcester China Works, and his partner and principal painter, Richard Goulding, was his son-in-law, who was, later on, assisted by his son, William Goulding [Sidenote: WM. GOULDING, June 20th, 1770. ✳] (a dated piece of his having the name as in the margin). I am inclined, however, to think that Joseph Shore must have originally belonged to the Derby China Works, as several of that name were connected with them. After Shore’s death, the works were continued by the Gouldings. The works were at Railshead Creek, by the ferry side.

STEPNEY.

A manufacture of porcelain was carried on here in the middle of last century; for Jonas Hanway, writing in 1750–1, says, “It is with great satisfaction that I observe the manufactories of Bow, Chelsea, and Stepney have made such a considerable progress.”

GREENWICH.

In 1747 it appears there was a small manufactory of china here, but nothing is known of its history. In the _London Tradesman_ of that year occurs this note:--“Of late we have made some attempts to make porcelain or chinaware, after the manner it is done in China and Dresden. There is a house at Greenwich, and another at Chelsea, where the undertakers have been for some time trying to imitate that beautiful manufacture.”

* * * * *

_Ransome’s Patent Stone Works._--These works, situated at Blackwall Lane, East Greenwich, were established at Ipswich in 1844, and removed to this locality in January, 1866. In 1871 the present company was incorporated in extension of the preceding firm. Mr. Frederick Ransome, the inventor of the processes, is a member of the well-known Ipswich family, and was in early life connected with the Orwell Works firm of Ransomes and Sims. It was while there, and noticing a workman engaged in dressing a millstone, that he conceived the idea of producing artificial stone, capable of being moulded to any form, and to be a perfect imitation, both in appearance and substance, of the blocks taken from our best quarries. At the commencement Mr. Ransome had, as I have said, his stoneworks at Ipswich. For ten years the difficulties he had to encounter were very great, but he persevered, and, though often discouraged, toiled and experimented on scientific principles until he succeeded in making not only perfectly equable and homogeneous grindstones, with keen cutting powers, and that need no dressing, but also ornamental and decorative stonework of ornate character, which has been well introduced in the Brighton Aquarium, London Docks, Albert Bridge, the Indian Court, Whitehall, St. Thomas’s Hospital, &c., the University of Calcutta and other buildings in India, and for ornamental buildings in France, Belgium, Holland, Egypt, Turkey, China (where a splendid fountain of Ransome stone adorns the public gardens at Hong Kong), and other countries. The demand for this artificial stone becoming much extended, the inventions were taken up by a company, and extensive works were erected at East Greenwich, to which the business was transferred, Mr. Ransome continuing with the company as managing director.

The works are of great extent, and occupy a space of about four acres, that was formerly a dreary waste, on the banks of the Thames. They are connected with the river by a tramway and a jetty, supplied with a powerful derrick. The works consist of a large covered building, with a dividing wall across the centre, in which there are two openings for the tramways that are laid from one end to the other, and on which the work is conveyed from one point to another as the different processes require.

The material is, to all intents and purposes, a pure sand-stone, whose silicious particles are bound together by a cement of silicate of lime--a mineral substance well known to be of the most indestructible nature; its composition, mechanically and chemically, is precisely that of the Craigleith and other best quality building-stones. It can be moulded to any form while in a plastic state, and can be worked with the chisel the same as any natural stone. The process of manufacture is based upon one of the most beautiful of chemical reactions; flints are dissolved by means of caustic alkali under high pressure, so as to form silicate of soda, a kind of waterglass. This viscous and tenacious substance is then rapidly mixed with a proportion of very fine and sharp silicious sand in a pug mill, so as to form a soft, plastic mass, which can be moulded into any shape that is desired. The soft stone is next immersed in a bath of chloride of calcium solution, which is made to penetrate every pore by means of hydraulic or atmospheric pressure. Whenever this solution comes into contact with the silicate of soda the two liquids are mutually and instantaneously decomposed, the silica taking possession of the calcium and forming the hard, solid silicate of lime, and the soda uniting with the chlorine to form chloride of sodium in a small quantity. Instead, then, of the particles of sand being covered with a thin film of the liquid silicate of soda, they are covered and united together with a film of solid silicate of lime--one of the most indestructible substances known. The small quantity of soluble chloride of sodium, one of the results of decomposition, is then washed out of the stone by a douche of clean water, or by hydraulic pressure, its complete removal being ensured by chemical tests. The stone is then dried and is fit for use.

The productions of these works may be said to comprise most of the useful as well as ornamental purposes to which stone can be applied. In the ornamental departments, vases of admirable design and of great variety, fountains, tazzas (in these three departments some two hundred different designs are produced), terminals, flower-boxes, flower-pots, tree-pots, garden edgings, &c. Figures and busts are also produced. In the more useful architectural departments, chimney-pieces, balustrades, chimney-shafts and tops, window-heads, vases, plinths, capitals, and many other articles are made, as well as memorial crosses, gravestones, cemetery numbers and labels, and other mortuary articles, of such excellent design and finish as to take the place of real stone, at a great reduction of cost. Another speciality of the productions of these works is the manufacture of grindstones and scythe-stones. These are said to preserve their cutting edges better than stones dressed in the ordinary way. Filters, too, for reservoirs, are made extensively, and have the reputation of being the most effective of any introduced. Pavement tiles, both red, white, grey, and other colours, and also inlaid in different patterns, are made. These, among other places, have been adopted on the new Albert Bridge, at Chelsea, with good effect, and are giving entire satisfaction, on account of their great hardness, strength, and non-liability to become slippery.

Another admirable and important element of Mr. Ransome’s inventions is the applying of the silicate of lime to the preservation of stone. The sculpture on St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, the Custom House at Greenock, Trinity College, Dublin, and many other public buildings, have been successfully treated with this solution, which hardens and renders the surface indestructible by time or weather.

The trade mark of the company, which is the only mark used in this manufactory, is a winged genius grinding an arrow, from an antique gem at Rome. It is shown on Fig. 373. The works are under the personal superintendence of Mr. A. Pye-Smith, with Mr. Frederick Ransome as consulting chemist; Mr. Bessemer is the chairman.

DEPTFORD.

In the seventeenth century a pottery existed here, where were manufactured melting-pots, “the best in the world, especially for founders.” These were in great repute, and gradually superseded those imported from Holland, Germany, and Denmark.

MERTON (see “Aldgate”).

HOUNSLOW.

About 1830 the manufacture of earthenware (commenced by Joseph Shore and carried on after his death by his son and grandson Richard and William Goulding) at Isleworth was removed to Hounslow, but died out in the course of a year or two, and has not been renewed.

WANDSWORTH (see “Aldgate”).

EWELL.

“_Nonsuch Pottery._”--A pottery existed here in the early part of last century, but about, or soon after, 1790, the bed of clay having been exhausted, it was discontinued. About 1800 the steward of the Nonsuch estates, on which the pottery was situated, gave permission for a new pottery to be established wherever the clay could be found; and soon afterwards the present “Nonsuch Pottery” was opened in Nonsuch Park. It was founded by Mr. William Richard Waghorn, who was joined in partnership by his son. This firm continued the works until 1851, when they were transferred to Mr. Swallow, who had, until that time, been their foreman. By him and his partner, Mr. Stone, the business was continued under the style of “Stone and Swallow,” and by them a pottery--principally for the manufacture of fire-bricks--was established at Epsom. Mr. Swallow died in 1866 or 1867, and since then his partner, Mr. Stone, continued the works alone: they are known as the “Nonsuch Pottery,” or as “Stone’s Ewell and Epsom Potteries.” The goods manufactured by Mr. W. Waghorn were “Italian tiling”--used very extensively in the buildings of the time and remarkable for their strength and durability; ornamental roof tiles; ridge tiles; “Nonsuch Fire Bricks;” “Nonsuch Fire Loam;” paving and other tiles; moulded bricks, &c., for Gothic buildings; ornamented chimney-pots; pipes; flower-pots and vases, &c.; and on their lists was a view of the old Nonsuch Palace, with an historical notice of the same. At the present time the same descriptions of goods are produced--the mark, where used, being simply the words “Stone & Co.”

CHEAM.

A pottery was worked here, about 1840, by Messrs. Waghorn, of the Ewell Pottery; but on their retiring, in 1851, was transferred to Mr. Baker, by whom it was worked until 1868, when he was succeeded by Messrs. Cowley & Aston. It was closed in 1869. In the same year another pottery was opened by Mr. Henry Clark, by whom it is still carried on, for the manufacture of ornamental and plain flower-pots, rustic fern-stands, vases, chimney-pots, drain-tiles, &c. They are of a bright red colour, and when a mark is used, it is simply “Henry Clark, Cheam Pottery.”

CHISELHURST.

_The West Kent Potteries_ were opened in 1820, before which time other works were in operation and carried on by the steward of Lord Sydney, the owner of the estate, for the manufacture of wares for the use of the estate. At Christmas, 1822, the works were taken by Mr. Pascall, who continued to carry them on until January, 1869, when he died in the ninety-second year of his age. Since then it has been carried on by his sons, Messrs. Pascall Brothers, the present owners. The productions of the works are the ordinary red-ware flower and root pots, sea-kale pots, and other horticultural ware: building and paving bricks and tiles; roofing and ridge tiles; drain, socket, and other pipes; chimney-tops, &c. Messrs. Pascall are patentees of the famous West Kent flower-pots with loose bottoms, celebrated for their convenience for changing and examining the roots; and of the patent sea-kale pots for growing sea-kale in hothouses. The works are extensive, and the production of horticultural-ware is large.