The Clay Industries, Including the Fictile & Ceramic Arts on the Banks of the Severn: with notices of the early use of Shropshire clays, the history of pottery, porcelain, &c. in the district — John Shaqi
The Clay Industries, Including the Fictile & Ceramic Arts on the Banks of the Severn: with notices of the early use of Shropshire clays, the history of pottery, porcelain, &c. in the districtRandall, John
History
The Clay Industries, Including the Fictile & Ceramic Arts on the Banks of the Severn: with notices of the early use of Shropshire clays, the history of pottery, porcelain, &c. in the district
Randall, John
Ceramics -- Great Britain -- History; Clay industries -- Great Britain -- History; Porcelain, English
The first specimens of Caughley are but little removed from earthenware,
but the material speedily improved, as did the manipulation or potting;
the latter to an extent as regards shape and outline so much so as to
render many of them superior to the same class of articles of the present
day. Their excellence in this respect is so self-evident as still to
render Caughley china a great favourite. Choice articles of this
manufacture are carefully guarded by Shropshire families, with whom they
have become heirlooms; they are carefully stored in corner cupboards and
on kitchen shelves, where they were once kept in countenance by rows of
shining pewter, and are only produced at christenings and weddings, and
on such red-letter days and rare occasions. Every year will add to their
value, to the veneration in which they are held; and at distant periods,
and when compared even with the ordinary productions of our factories at
the present day, they will serve to show how successful were the
well-directed efforts at the Caughley Works to produce a porcelain which
should take high rank and maintain it.
The buildings of the old factory have been razed to the ground; the
plough passes over where they stood, and a few pitchers turned up now and
then are the only indications obtained of these interesting works. But a
class of clever men were educated there; some of whom—as the late Herbert
Minton’s father, John Rose, and others—have done much to raise the
character of our English productions.
COALPORT PORCELAIN WORKS.
The first works at Coalport were we believe founded and carried on by
William Reynolds, Thomas Rose, Robert Horton, and Robert Anstice; the
former William Reynolds, being then Lord of the Manor. The buildings, or
a good portion occupied by them are still standing.
Mr. Thomas Rose, and Mr. John Rose, were sons of a respectable farmer
living at Sweeney. The latter was a clerk under Mr. Turner, at Caughley,
and left him to take the Jackfield works about the year, it is said,
1780. Having carried them on for a few years, in conjunction with Mr.
Blakeway, during which time he greatly improved the quality of the
article manufactured there, he established the present Coalport works on
the side of the canal, then recently opened, and opposite to those of
Reynolds, Horton, Thomas Rose, and Robert Anstice. On Mr. Turner
retiring from the Caughley works in 1799, Mr. Rose and the new company he
had formed purchased them, and by means of increased capital shortly
afterwards removed both plant and materials from Caughley and Jackfield
to the more advantageous position they now occupy, on the banks of the
canal and the Severn. Even the buildings were pulled down and the bricks
and timber removed to the opposite side of the Severn, where they were
used in constructing the cottages now standing opposite to the present
Coalport Works.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account