The ceramic art of Great Britain from pre-historic times down to the present day, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b being a history of the ancient and modern pottery and porcelain works of the kingdom and of their productions of every classJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The ceramic art of Great Britain from pre-historic times down to the present day, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b being a history of the ancient and modern pottery and porcelain works of the kingdom and of their productions of every class
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Pottery, British -- History
“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 15_d._ and 16_d._ per doz., and all pints at 2_s._, and
quarts at 3_s._ 6_d._ 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, the works
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.
DENBY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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