Chapter IX (2)

_The Foley Potteries._--These potteries take their name from the Foley family, who own property in the neighbourhood. They were built by Mr. John Smith, of Fenton Hall, about 1820, the first firm by whom they were worked being Messrs. Elkin, Knight, & Bridgwood (who made the better classes of “Willow pattern,” “Broseley pattern,” and other blue printed services). On the retirement of the latter the style was changed to Knight & Elkin, and, subsequently, on the retirement of Mr. Elkin, the works were carried on by Mr. John King Knight alone, till 1853, when he was joined in partnership by the late Mr. Henry Wileman, wholesale china dealer, of London, the style being Knight & Wileman. On the retirement of Mr. Knight, in 1856, Mr. Wileman carried on the works alone until his death, in 1864, when his two sons succeeded him as J. & C. Wileman. In 1866 the partnership was dissolved, and from that time till the present the business has belonged to Mr. James F. Wileman, the present proprietor. The goods produced are the usual granite ware, printed wares, lustres, Egyptian and shining black, and cream-coloured wares. All of these of the ordinary classes for household use, and the great bulk of the trade are export to the States, Panama, Australia, South Africa, Ceylon, Java, and India.

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_The Foley China Works_ were built in 1860 by the late Mr. Henry Wileman, the owner of the Foley Potteries. At his death, in 1864, they were continued by his sons, Messrs. J. & C. Wileman, till 1867, when the partnership was dissolved, the latter (Mr. C. J. Wileman) continuing the china, and the former the earthenware works. In 1870 Mr. C. J. Wileman retired, and his brother then became proprietor of both manufactories, and shortly afterwards took into partnership Mr. J. B. Shelley, the firm being styled Wileman & Co. The china produced is of the ordinary useful class for household purposes.

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_King Street Works._--These works were established in the latter part of last century by Mr. Shelley, who was succeeded by Mr. Marsh, from whom they passed to Messrs. T. & J. Carey. The productions of these firms were the ordinary Rockingham ware and common classes of earthenware; Messrs. Carey also occupying two other manufactories at Longton. They were next held by a company, and about 1850 passed into the hands of the present proprietor, Mr. John Edwards. The goods now produced are semi-porcelain and white granite for the American markets. Until 1856 Mr. Edwards produced china in addition, but this has since then been discontinued. Mr. Edwards is patentee of a process for making thimble pins; and he also, in 1859, took out a patent for “improvements in stacking or holding biscuit, earthen, china, and glossed ware for firing” by means of “a ring frame or holder, with a rim or flange projecting inwardly, so as to occupy the whole or part of the centre of the ring.”

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_Heath._--Thomas Heath was a potter in Lane Delph in 1710, and produced a good hard grey-coloured ware. His three daughters married three potters, Palmer and Neale, of Hanley, and Pratt of Fenton. Heath was an enterprising potter, and was successful in making the coated or delft ware, same as made by Astbury.

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_Bacchus._--Thomas Bacchus, who, according to Shaw, married first a widow named Astbury, manufactured cream-coloured and blue painted ware; his second wife being a skilled painter, his late productions were of a more superior character.

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_William Meir_ had pot works at Fenton in the middle of last century, which he rented from Whieldon, as the following entry in his book shows: “Mr. Wm. Meir, of Fenton Low, for a house and pottworks & 3 small closes, March 25, 1750, a year’s Rent due--£14--10--0.” Whieldon at that time owned much land about Fenton, and Fenton Hall seems also to have belonged to him. This he let to Ralph Woolf, at a yearly rental of £4; the “New House in Lower Lane” being at the same time let to Thos. Woolf for £2 2_s._ a year. Fenton Hall was afterwards, in 1750, let at the same rent to Wm. Marsh and Wm. Kent; it was afterwards divided.

* * * * *

_Harrison._--George Harrison was an earthenware manufacturer in the latter part of last century. His productions, according to an invoice of August 20, 1793, consisted of “large and less tureens,” “sauce tureens,” “root dishes,” “sallad bowls,” and “tureen ladles,” blue edged; and cream-coloured “ewers.”

* * * * *

_Martin._--Anne Martin (I presume, widow of S. Martin), was a manufacturer at Lane Delph in 1793. Her productions, as appears from invoices of hers of that year in my possession, were “variegated jugs” of different sizes, “blue-gray mugs and jugs,” “hand-basins,” different sizes, “egg cups,” “pattie pans,” “cups and saucers,” (these were 10_d._ a dozen!) “sauce boats,” “bottles,” “bowls,” “cowlerd toys,” “hand bowls,” “dip^d bosed jugs,” “sallad bowls,” “flower pots,” “stoole pans,” “blue painted mugs and jugs,” “pickel jars,” “table services,” &c.

* * * * *

_Miles Mason_ was a manufacturer in the latter part of last century. An invoice of his of 1797 enumerates blue dessert ware sets, each consisting of “1 centre piece, 4 shells, 2 hearts, 2 cucum. tureens, dishes & stands, and 24 desert plates;” “melon shapes,” “squares,” oval and round baking dishes, oval and square salad dishes, “Nankeen spitting pots,” basins and egg cups. Miles Mason was the father of George Miles Mason, Charles James Mason, of “Ironstone china” celebrity (see page 408), and William Mason. The family of Mason was originally of Westmoreland, where they were tenants of Sir Michael Freeman, of Rydal Hall. One of the sons went to London and established a shop for the sale of East India china. He afterwards, I am informed, opened a manufactory at Liverpool. He then bought land at Fenton from the Bagnall family, on which he erected the works now occupied by Mrs. Green, and called the “Minerva Works,” at Fenton. Afterwards he and his brother built the “Fenton Pottery” (which see), and after some reverses removed from it to a much smaller and less pretentious manufactory, the “Daisy Bank Works” (which also see). Miles Mason’s marks were--

[symbol] MILES MASON. Miles Mason. M. Mason.
M. MASON.]

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_Whieldon._--Thomas Whieldon, whose name is more intimately mixed up with the early development of the potter’s art than that of almost any other man, was a manufacturer at Little Fenton in the middle of last century. Spode, Astbury, Garner, Greatbach, Heath, Edge, Marsh, and many others, were his apprentices or employés, and Josiah Wedgwood, when quite a young man, and Harrison, were his partners, while his mottled and other wares were of high character. In 1740 Whieldon’s works consisted of a small range of low thatched buildings. “His early productions were knife-hafts for the Sheffield cutlers, and snuff-boxes for the Birmingham hardwaremen to finish with hoops, hinges, and springs, which himself usually carried in a basket to the tradesmen, and, being much like agate, they were greatly in request. He also made toys and chimney ornaments, coloured in either the clay state or biscuit by zaffre, manganese, copper, &c., and glazed with black, red, or white lead. He also made black glazed tea and coffee-pots, tortoiseshell and melon table plates (with ornamented edge and six scollops, as in the specimens kept by Andrew Boon, of the Honeywall, Stoke), and other useful articles. Mr. A. Wood made models and moulds of these articles; also pickle leaves, crab-stock handles, and cabbage-leave spouts for tea and coffee-pots, which utensils, with candlesticks, chocolate-cups, and tea-ware, were much improved, and his connections extended subsequently, when Mr. J. Wedgwood became Whieldon’s managing partner. He was a shrewd and careful person. To prevent his productions being imitated in quality or shape, he always buried the broken articles, and a few months ago we witnessed the unexpected exposure of some of these, by some miners attempting to get marl in the road at Little Fenton. The fortune he acquired by his industry enabled him to erect a very elegant mansion near Stoke, where he long enjoyed, in the bosom of his family, the fruits of his early economy. He was also sheriff of the county in the twenty-sixth year of the late reign. The benevolence of his disposition, and his integrity, are honourable traits of character, far superior to the boast of ancestry without personal merit. Mr. Whieldon lived, I am informed by Mr. John Ward, in a large house near the lower part of Fenton, called Whieldon’s Grove; the line of railway passes through the grounds, and a part of the house is used by the railway company as a store. He died in 1798 at a very old age, and in 1828 his relict was interred beside him in Stoke churchyard.

In 1749, Thomas Whieldon built an addition to his works, and the account of the “Expenses of the new end & Seller of the Over Work-house” are in my own possession.

From this period downwards for some years the dates and terms of “hirings” of workpeople, “setting” of houses and land to different tenants, and many other matters of interest, are all entered in his own handwriting in a pocket account-book belonging to Whieldon, now in my own possession. From this book I extract the following entries of “hirings,” for the purpose of showing the small amount of wages paid in those days as compared with the present, and the curious and amusing bargains which were made between master and workman as to “earnest money” and gifts of “old cloaths,” &c. The entries relating to Josiah Spode and Robert Gardner I have already given in another part of this volume:--

1749. _£ _s._ _d._

Jany. 27. Hired Jno. Austin for placeing white,
&c., pr. week 0 5 6

Pd. his whole earnest 0 3 0

Feby. 14. Then hired Thos. Dutton 0 6 6

Pd. 1 pr. Stockins 0 3 6

Earnest for vineing[55] 0 15 0

1 pr. Stockins 0 2 6

Pd. in part 0 1 0

Pd. do. in 7 yds. cloth 0 8 9

„ 16. Hired Wm. Keeling for handling 0 6 0

Pd. his whole earnest 0 1 0

„ 20. Hired Wm. Cope for handleing & vineing
& cast ware, for 0 7 0

Pd. his whole earnest 0 10 6

March 8. Then hired Jno. Barker for ye huvel, 0 5 6

Pd. earnest in part 0 1 0

Pd. it to pay more 0 1 0

„ 24. Hired ... Low for making Slip 0 5 3

Pd. him in part of his earnest 0 2 6

To pay more 0 2 6

„ 26. Then hired George Bagnall, for fireing
for this year, for 0 5 3

Full earnest, 5_s._

Pd. in part, 2_s._ 6_d._

Hired for 1750 0 5 6

June 2. Hired Jos. Astbury 0 1 6

Pd. earnest 0 0 6

1751.

April 6. Hired Thos. Astbury 0 6 0

Till Michaelmas, pd. earnest 0 1 0

Oct. 26. Then hired Cupit 0 2 3

Pd. earnest 0 0 6

I am to give him a old pr. of stockings or
something.

1752.

Hired George Bagley for 2 years. 1st year 0 3 6

2nd year 0 4 0

To give him a pair of shoes each year.

1753.

June 21. Hired Wm. Marsh for 3 years. He is to have
10_s_. 6_d_. earnest each year and 7_s_.
per week. I am to give an old coat or
something about 5_s._ value.

Aug. 29. Hired Westaby’s 3 children, per week 0 4 0

Pd. earnest 0 0 6

Hired John Everal, per week 0 4 6

Pd. earnest, 2 pr. Stockings 0 4 0

1 shilling in cash 0 1 0

To have a handkerchief.

1749.

June 2. Hired a boy of Ann Blowrs for Treading ye
lathe, per week 0 2 0

Pd. earnest 0 0 6

1751. _£ s. d._

Jany. 11. Then hired Elijah Simpson for Turning,
he is to have pr week 0 8 0

Whole earnest 2 2 0

Pd. in part 1 2 0

Then hired Saml. Jackson for Throwing
Sagers and fireing pr. week 0 8 0

Whole earnest 2 2 0

Pd. in part 1 2 0

Pd. more 1 1 0

Feby. 9. Hired Jno. Edge, for per week 0 6 0

He is to have earnest 0 5 0

& a new pr. stockins 0 2 0

Pd. in part 0 1 0

Hired his son Saml for 0 1 3

April 6. Hired Wm. Kent, per week 0 7 6

To give for earnest 0 12 0

Pd. in part 0 1 6

To give a new Shirt at 16_d._ per yard.

Hired Ann Blowrs Girl & Boy
Girl 0 0 9
Boy, Joseph 0 2 0

To give earnest, Testament.

The names of workpeople occurring in these hirings are:--

Jno. Austin,
Wm. Lawton,
Robt. Gardner,
George Bagnall,
Siah Spoade,
Jos. Matthewson,
Jno. Everel,
Wm. Sale,
Wm. Ward,
Thos. Halam,
Daniel Greatbach,
Richd. Bell,
Wm. Marsh,
Jno. Marsh,
Jno. Barker,
Henry Averills,
Two lads,
Thos. Barlow,
Thos. Astbury,
Sanders,
Two lads,
---- Cupit,
Uria Sutton,
Benj. Burrows,
Thos. Dutton,
Thos. Mee,
Jno. Kent,
Wm. Kent,
Bet. Blower,
Ann Blowers,
Boy and Girl,
James Blower,
John Blower,
Ned Blower,
Wm. Reeves,
Old Thos. Mee,
Wm. Keeling,
Wm. Fox,
John Lowe,
Jos. Astbury,
Thos. Steen,
Elijah Simpson,
John Knight,
Thos. Bagley,
George Bagley,
---- Booth,
Westaby,
Jno. Edge, Senr.,
Wm. Cope,
Jos. Botham,
James Leigh,
Saml. Jackson
Thos. Hallins,
Jno. Edge,
Wm. Kent,
Wm. Amery,
Boy.

That Whieldon was a man of large property is evident from the entries of “settings” of lands and houses, in the same book, but this is not pertinent to my subject of the goods manufactured during the same period. One or two entries give interesting particulars; thus:--

To send Mrs. DAVISON.

6 ½ pt. mugs, white, 2_d._
1 flat candlestick, Tor.[56]

Mr. THOS. FLETCHER, Dr.

_£ s. d._
To 1 doz. Plates, Tor.[56] 0 8 0
„ 2 ¼ do. plate 0 2 6
„ 2 2 dishes 0 2 0
„ 1 do. painted 0 2 0
„ 1 do. Cream Colr. 0 1 8
„ 5 pails 0 2 6

Mr. DAVISON.

1 pail 0 0 6

To make for Mr. GREEN (of Hovingham,
near Heylsham, Norfolk).

4 Tor.[56] Teapots, all Toys; 4 Coffee Pots;
4 Slop bowls;

4 Ewers; 4 Sugar boxes, china make; 4 Mustard
pots, high;

8 Salts, high feet; 12 2 Dishes, Tor.[56]; 5 doz.
pails;

2 doz. piggins; 6 doz. large plates; 4 doz.
round ditto;

8 doz. a size less; 7 of ym round with Ribd.
edge;

1 do. Sqr.; 3 doz. Bread & butter plates,
Ribd.; 3 qt. Coffee Pots;

6 pints; 4 2nd size dishes; 2 larger.

The goods manufactured by Whieldon, both before, during, and after his partnership with Wedgwood, were of good quality and excellent form. They are now very scarce, and are highly and deservedly prized by collectors. Two “tortoiseshell plates,” a small “cauliflower jug,” a marbled, or “combed-pattern” plate, and an imitation agate knife-haft, are shown by Figs. 640 to 644.

In 1754 Wedgwood and Harrison entered into partnership with Thomas Whieldon. The partnership with Harrison, however, continued but for a short period, and in 1752 he went out of the concern, Wedgwood and Whieldon continuing in partnership five years, and carrying on their trade at Whieldon’s works at Fenton Low. In 1754 Wedgwood here produced his famous green glaze, which helped much to extend the fame of the manufactory. In 1759 the partnership expired; Wedgwood returned to Burslem, and Whieldon continued the business alone. He acquired a large fortune, in 1786 was high sheriff of the county, and in 1798 died at an advanced age.

* * * * *

_Turner._--Messrs. William and John Turner, whose manufactory was in the High Street, have often been referred to in this work. They were among the best and most successful potters of the end of last and early part of the present century. About 1756 Mr. John Turner and Mr. Banks made white stone ware at Stoke, but in 1762 Turner removed to Lane End, “where he manufactured every kind of pottery then in demand, and also introduced some other kinds not previously known.” About 1780 he discovered a valuable vein of fine clay at Green Dock, from which he “obtained all his supplies for manufacturing his beautiful and excellent stone ware pottery of a cane colour, which he formed into very beautiful jugs, with ornamental designs, and the most tasteful articles of domestic use.” Turner produced “a shining blue glazed pottery similar to that of the Japanese porcelain,” as well as making many other improvements in the art. He died in 1786, and was succeeded by his sons William and John Turner, who became, as just said, among the best potters of the day--equalling in many respects Josiah Wedgwood himself. In jasper ware, in Egyptian black, and other finer wares, there is little choice between Turner and Wedgwood, although the composition of the two bodies was not the same, and had been obtained by different processes. In 1800 Messrs. Turner took out a patent for a new method of manufacturing porcelain and earthenware by the introduction of “Rafferness Mine Rock, Little Mine Rock, and New Rock.” The works were closed about 1803. The mark used by the Turners was simply the name TURNER, impressed on the jasper and other fine bodies; on their blue-bordered and printed wares sometimes they used the Prince of Wales’s feathers, with the name Turner beneath.

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_Garner._--Robert Garner, or Gardner, son of Robert Gardner, was an apprentice with Thomas Whieldon, and afterwards employed by him, at the same period as his fellow workman, Josiah Spode, was employed. The following entry is in Whieldon’s own handwriting, in my possession:

_£ s. d._

“1749. Feb. 28. Then hired Robt. Gardner, per week 0 6 6

Earnest 0 10 6

Pd. him toward it 0 1 0

I am to make his earnest about 5s.
more in something.

1751. Feby. 22. Agreed with Robt. Gardner for his
son for next year, pr. week 0 7 0

I am to give him earnest 1 1 0

Paid it.

1754. Novr. 11. Hired old Robt. Gardnr & pd. earnest 1 1 0

March 16. Pd. Robt. Gardner, senr., earnest
for this year 1 1 0

1757. May 30. Pd. earnest for this year 1 1 0”

Gardner was also a tenant of Whieldon’s, as shown by the following entry:--

“1752. May 11. Let Robt. Gardner a house at Fenton
Hall Bank, pr. year £2 2 0”

This he continued to hold for some years, as receipts for rent show.

Robert Gardner, who was hired from his father in 1751, married Margaret Astbury, daughter of Astbury, the well-known potter, and at one time was in partnership with one of her brothers at the Foley. He built a large house, then known as the Foley House, but latterly as the Bank House. By his wife Margaret Astbury, Mr. Garner was the father of Robert Garner, potter, of Lane End, some of whose accounts of 1797 are in my possession. He married a Miss Middlemore, daughter and co-heiress of the Middlemores of Edgbaston and Studley, by whom, with other issue, he had a son, the present Robert Garner, Esq., F.L.S., surgeon, of Stoke-upon-Trent, the author of the “Natural History of the County of Stafford,” and other works, and one of the most talented and enlightened of the worthies of the pottery district.

About 1750, it is said, the elder Robert Garner, in conjunction with Messrs. Barker, “commenced the manufactory of Shining Black and White Stone Ware, salt glaze, at the Row Houses, near the Foley, Fenton, and where afterwards they made tolerable cream colour. They realised a good property here, and Mr. R. Garner rented a manufactory and the best mansion of the time in Lane End, near the old turnpike gate.” Robert Garner, of Lane End, was a potter in a large way of business, and excellent in Queen’s or cream-coloured ware. Some examples of his make are preserved in the Stoke Museum. A sister of his married Mr. Banks, formerly one of the principal potters of Stoke.

* * * * *

_Edwards._--William Edwards, a potter at Lane Delph in 1750, made a very superior kind of earthenware. One of his productions, described by Shaw, was a plate with basket-work rim, the centre part divided into compartments of embossed work, and decorated with various devices.

* * * * *

_Johnson._--Thomas and Joseph Johnson made white stone, Crouch, and other wares. Their manufactory was afterwards held by Mayer and Newbold.

* * * * *

_Phillips._--About 1760, a son of Mr. Phillips, of Lane Delph, commenced making white stone and other wares at Green Dock, Longton, and afterwards produced cream-coloured ware of good quality.

* * * * *

_Sampson Bridgwood._--His manufactory was erected in 1756 by Roger Wood, of the Ash, and occupied by a Mr. Ford, for stone and brown wares.

* * * * *

_Greatbach._--Robert Greatbach was bound apprentice with Thomas Whieldon. He afterwards carried on business at Fenton, where he produced a number of good and useful patterns in various wares. Thomas Radford was associated with him in this business, and his engravings were very popular. One of the best examples is a mug bearing “The World in Planisphere,” on which occurs the name “engraved by Radford;” it is very sharply and clearly engraved, and bears, on an heraldic wreath, the initials “E. T.” Another celebrated production was the subject of the “Prodigal Son” on tea-pots, &c. Greatbach was afterwards engaged by Wedgwood, and was a successful modeller.

* * * * *

_Greenwood._--A potter named Greenwood was in Fenton, in Staffordshire, about 1770–80.

Other potters in Fenton were Thomas Heath, Bourne, Baker & Bourne, Thos. Bacchus.

Other potters about 1760 were Phillips, Matthews, Moses Simpson, John Adams, John Prince, and William Hilditch.

* * * * *

_Heathcote & Co._--The Heathcotes were potters in Staffordshire, I believe, at the close of last and in the early part of the present century. The wares produced were good quality blue printed, painted, and gilt services, and ornamental goods. The mark was the Prince of Wales’s feathers with the name C. HEATHCOTE & CO. above, and on a ribbon beneath the name of the pattern, as CAMBRIA, &c. Some good examples are in the Mayer Museum.

* * * * *

_Matthews._--William Matthews, of Lane Delph, was a maker of tortoiseshell and clouded pottery.

* * * * *

_Myatt._--“At the southern extremity of Foley,” says Shaw in 1829, “are the house and factory of the late Mr. Myatt, one of the first persons who received the Wesleyan and Methodist preachers, and in whose parlour the late Mr. J. Wesley stood, while from the window he preached to a vast congregation, when last he passed through Staffordshire only a few months prior to his decease.” He produced ordinary white and printed earthenware and red ware.

His mark was his name, impressed:

MYATT.

MYATT.

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_Williamson._--Hugh Williamson was a potter in the latter part of last century, and principally made the ordinary blue printed ware. A plate or tray with blue flowers and border is in the Mayer collection, and is labelled as “Made at Hugh Williamson’s. It was transferred by Mrs. Hancock, seventy-eight years of age, when she was an apprentice.”

* * * * *

_Harley._--Thomas Harley, a manufacturer at “Lane End,” produced some good earthenware services, jugs, and other articles. He sometimes marked with his name in full in writing letters, _T. Harley, Laneend_, and at other times HARLEY.

* * * * *

_Plant._--Benjamin Plant was a potter here at the close of last century. His name sometimes occurs as below.

_B. Plant,
Lane End._

_Benjamin Plant,
Lane End._

* * * * *

_Bailey & Batkin._--This firm (see Batkin & Booth, page 403) made a fine quality of lustre ware--a brown clay with lustre wash all over outside, and often inside. In the Mayer collection is a service of it, and one large piece with “BAILEY & BATKIN, SOLE PATENTEES,” running round a central band.

* * * * *

_Mayer & Newbold._--This firm produced excellent goods in the early part of the present century. One of their marks was--_May^r & Newb^d_, and another Mayer & Newbold in full.

* * * * *

It will be interesting to add that at Longton Hall William Littler, of Brownhills, at one time resided, and there, according to Shaw, “continued his experiments [in the manufacture of porcelain] until his success surpassed all the expectations of his contemporaries; but there not being much demand for this kind of ware he sacrificed his estate at Brownhills, near Burslem, and then discontinued manufacturing porcelain. His chief workman was not only a good practical potter, but a tolerable modeller, Dr. Mills, who subsequently died at Shelton at a very advanced age.” Littler’s removal to Longton Hall is said to have been “about 1765.” Littler is said afterwards to have been manager of Baddeley & Fletcher’s works at Shelton. Ten years previously William Duesbury, the founder of the Derby China Works, was also of Longton Hall. In a deed of that year, which I have given in _extenso_ on page 66, he is described as “William Duesbury, of Longton Hall, in the parish of Stoke-upon-Trent,” and in another deed as “Wm. Duesbury, of Longton, in ye County of Stafford, Enamellor” (see under “Derby,” _ante_).