Fulham.

In 1671, as I have already shown,[39] John Dwight took out a patent for “the mistery of transparent earthenware, comonly knowne by the names of Porcelaine or China, and Persian Ware,” &c. The patent runs as follows:—

“CHARLES THE SECOND, &c., to all to whome theise presents shall come, greeting.

“WHEREAS wee have bene informed by the humble peticon of John Dwight, Gentl, that he had discovered “The Mistery of Transparent Earthenware, comonly knowne by the Names of Porcelaine or China, and Persian Ware, as alsoe the Misterie of the Stone Ware vulgarly called Cologne Ware; and that he designed to introduce a Manufacture of the said Wares into our Kingdome of England, where they have not hitherto bene wrought or made.” And thereupon the said John Dwight hath humbly besought vs to grant him the sole benefitt of the manufacture of the said wares for fourteene yeares, according to the statute in that behalfe made and provided.

“KNOW YEE, that wee, being willing to cherish and encourage all laudable endeavours and designes of such our subiects as shall find out vsefull and profitable arts, misteries, and invencons, by granting and appropriating vnto them for some terme of yeares the fruite and benefitt of their industry, whereby their labours and expences in the attainmt thereof may be recompensed and rewarded vnto them, of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere mocon, have given and granted, and by theise presents, for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and grant vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, speciall lycense and full and free libertie, priviledge, power, and authoritie, that he, the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, by him and themselves, or by his or their deputies, servants, workemen, or assignes, and none other, shall and may, from time to time, and att all and everie time and times hereafter, dureing the tearme of fourteene yeares next ensueing the date of these presents, att his and their owne proper costs and charges, vse, exercise, practise, and enioy the said misterie and Invencon of makeing transparent earthen ware, comonly knowne by the names of porcelaine or China, and Persian ware; and also the mistery and Invencon or makeing the stone ware vulgarly called Collogne ware, within any convenient place or places within our Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, or Towne of Berwick-vpon-Tweed, in such manner as to him or them in their discrecons shall seeme meete; and shall and may have and enioy the sole benefitt and advantage from, by, or vnder the said misteries and invencons or manufactures of the said wares, or either of them by him the said John Dwight found out and discovered, as aforesaid, ariseing or groweing from time to time dureing the terme hereby granted, to have, hold, and enioy the said lycenses, priviledges, powers, and authorities, benefitt, advantages, & other the premisses in and by these presents granted or menconed to be granted, and everie of them, vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, from and dureing the tearme of fourteene yeares from henceforth next ensueing, and fully to be compleate and ended, yeilding and paying therefore yearely and every yeare dureing the said tearme into the receipt of our Exchequer att Westminster, to the vse of vs, our heires and successors, the yearely rent or sume of twentie shillings of lawfull money of England, att the two most vsuall feasts or tearmes in the yeare, (that is to say) att the Feast of Saint Michaell the Archangell, and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by even and equall porcons. And to the end the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, and everie of them, may the better enioy the full and whole benefitt and sole vse and exercise of the said misteries, invencons, and manufacture of the said wares, as well within liberties as without, wee doe by theise presents, for vs, our heires and successors, require and streightly charge and comand all and everie person & persons, bodies pollitique and corporate, of whatsoever qualitie, degree, name, or condicon they be, that neither they nor any of them, dureing the tearme hereby granted, either directly or indirectly, doe or shall vse or putt in practise the said misteries and invencons or manufacture of the said wares, or either of them, soe by the said John Dwight found out or discovered as aforesaid; nor doe or shall counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same; nor doe or shall make any addicon therevnto, or substraccon from the same, whereby to pretend themselves the inventors or devisors thereof, without the lycense, consent, and agreement of the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, in writeing under his or their hands and seals first had and obteyned in that behalfe, vpon such paines and penalties as can or may be inflicted on such offendors for the contempt of this our comand in that behalfe, and further to be answearable to the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, according to law and justice, for his and their damages thereby susteined. And further, we doe by theise presents, for vs, our heires and successors, give and grant vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, full power and authoritie that he, they, and everie of them, his, theire, & everie of theire deputies, servants, and agents, or any of them, haveing first obteyned a warrant in this behalfe from the Lord Chiefe Justice of the Court of King’s Bench for the time being, may, with the assistance of a constable or any other lawfull officer, as well within liberties as without, vpon request, att convenient times in the day, dureing the time aforesaid, and in lawfull manner, to enter and make search in any houses or other places where there shall be iust causes of suspition, for discovering and finding out of all such persons as shall within the tearme of fourteene yeares aforesaid imitate or cause to bee imitated or vse or putt in practise the said misteries and invencons, or manufacture of the said wares, or either of them, soe by the said John Dwight found out and discovered as aforesaid, that soe such offendors may be proceeded against and punished according to their demeritts. And further, wee doe by theise presents, for vs, our heires and successors, will, authorise, and require all and singuler justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffes, bayliffes, constables, head-boroughs, and all other officers and ministers whatsoever, of vs, our heires and successors, for the time being, that they and every of them respectively be from time to time dureing the said tearme hereby granted in their respective places, favouring, ayding, helping, and assisting vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, adminrs, and assignes, and to be his and their deputie and deputies, servants, and agents, in and by all things in and aboute the accomplishment of our will and pleasure herein declared, and in the exercise and execucon of the powers and priviledges herein and hereby granted or menconed to be granted as aforesaid; and, moreover, wee will and comand by theise presents, for us, our heires and successors, that our said officers, or any of them, doe not molest, trouble, or interrupt the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, or his or their deputie or deputies, servants, or workemen, or any of them, in or about the vse or exercise of the said misteries and invencons or manufacture of the said wares, or either of them, or any matter or thing concerning the same, or either of them: Provided alwaies, that if att any time dureing the said tearme of fourteene yeares it shall be made appeare vnto vs, our heires or successors, or any six or more of our or their Privy Councell, that this our grant is contrary to law or preiudiciall or inconvenient or not of public vse or benefitt, then, vpon significacon & declaracon to be made by vs, our heires or successors, vnder our or their signett or privie seale, or by the Lords and others of our Privy Councell, or any six of them for the time being, in writeing vnder their hands, of such preiudice or inconvenience, these our Letters Patents, and all things therein conteyned, shall forthwith cease, determine, and be vtterly void to all intents and purposes, anything hereinbefore conteyned to the contrary notwithstanding. And our will and pleasure is, that the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall enroll these presents, or cause the same to be enrolled, before the Clerke of the Pipe within six moneths next after the date hereof. And lastly, wee doe by theise presents, for vs, our heires and successors, grant vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, that these our Letters Patents, and the inrollment thereof, shall bee in and by all things good, valid, sufficient, and effectuall in the law, according to the true intent and meaning of theise presents, and shall be taken, adiudged, and construed most favourably and beneficially for the best benefitt and advantage of the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, as well in all our Courts of Record as elsewhere, notwithstanding the not specifying the various sorts of the said Collogne wares, and the not full and certaine describing the manner and qualitie of the said misteries and invencons, or any of them, or of the materialls, way and manner of workeing the same, or of the true and certaine vse and benefitt thereof, and notwithstanding any other defects, incertainties, or imperfeccons in theise presents conteyned, or any act, statute, ordinance, provision, proclamacon, or restraint to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

“In witnes, &c. Witnes our selfe att Westminster, the Three and twentieth day of Aprill P bre de privatoe sigillo.”

This was the commencement of the Fulham Pottery, whose history I am about to attempt to trace, and which has continued uninterruptedly in work for more than two centuries.

Dwight appears to have been a man of considerable learning and ability. He graduated as M.A. at Christ Church, Oxford, and successively held the appointments of secretary to more than one Bishop of Chester. He seems to have long experimented upon clays and mineral products in the search after the body of which the oriental china was made, and at length to have brought those researches to a successful issue. Six years after the date of the first of his patents, Dr. Plot, the eminent antiquary and keeper of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, thus wrote of his discoveries in his “History of Oxfordshire”:—

“§ 84. Amongst arts that concern formation of earths, I shall not mention the making of pots at Marsh Balden and Nuneham Courtney, nor of tobacco-pipes of the white earth of Shotover, since those places are now deserted. Nor indeed was there, as I ever heard of, anything extraordinary performed during the working these earths, nor is there now of a very good tobacco-pipe clay found in the parish of Horspath, since the first printing of the third chapter of this history.... Let it suffice for things of this nature, that the ingenious John Dwight, formerly M.A. of Christ Church College, Oxon, hath discovered the mystery of the stone or Cologne wares (such as d’Alva bottles, jugs, noggins), heretofore made only in Germany, and by the Dutch brought over into England in great quantities; and hath set up a manufacture of the same, which (by methods and contrivances of his own, altogether unlike those used by the Germans), in three or four years’ time, he hath brought it to greater perfection than it has attained where it hath been used for many ages, insomuch that the Company of Glass-sellers of London, who are the dealers for that commodity, have contracted with the inventor to buy only of his English manufacture, and refuse the foreign.

Ҥ 85. He hath discovered also the mystery of the Hessian wares, and vessels for reteining the penetrating salts and spirits of the chymists, more serviceable than were ever made in England, or imported from Germany itself.

Ҥ 86. And hath found ways to make an earth white and transparent as porcellane, and not distinguishable frome it by the eye, or by experiments that have been purposely made to try wherein they disagree. To this earth he hath added the colours that are usual in the coloured china ware, and divers others not seen before. The skill that hath been wanting to set up a manufacture of this transparent earthenware in England, like that of China, is the glazing of the white earth, which hath much puzzled the projector, but now that difficulty also is in great measure overcome.

“§ 87. He hath also caused to be modelled statues or figures of the said transparent earth (a thing not done elsewhere, for China affords us only imperfect mouldings), which he hath diversified with great variety of colours, making them of the colour of iron, copper, brass, and party-colour’d as some Achat-stones. The considerations that induced him to this attempt were the duration of this hard-burnt earth, much above brass or marble, against all air and weather, and the softness of the matter to be modelled, which makes it capable of more curious work than stones that are wrought with chisels, or metals that are cast. In short, he has so advanced the Art Plastic that ’tis dubious whether any man since Prometheus have excelled him, not excepting the famous Damophilus and Gorgasus of Pliny (Nat. Hist., lib. xxxv. c. 12).

“§ 88. And these arts he employs about meterials of English growth, and not much applyed to other uses; for instance, he makes the stone bottles of a clay in appearance like to tobacco-pipe clay, which will not make tobacco-pipes, although the tobacco-pipe clay will make bottles; so that that which hath lain buried and useless to the owners may become beneficial to them by reason of this manufacture, and many working hands get good livelihoods, not to speak of the very considerable sums of English coyn annually kept at home by it.”

Dwight having patented his discovery of “the mistery of transparent earthenware, commonly known by the names of Porcelaine or China, or Persia ware,” in April, 1671, it is perfectly clear that the discovery must have been made before that time, and that it must have been the result of a long series of patient trials and experiments. Thus, I think, we may safely say that the actual discovery was made some time prior to 1671. In 1684 the patent expired, and a new one granted, in June, for another term of fourteen years—this time the wares and articles being more specifically named. It is as follows:—

“CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, &c., to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting.

“WHEREAS John Dwight, Gentl, hath represented vnto vs that by his owne industry and at his owne proper costs and charges, hee hath invented and sett vp at Fulham, in our County of Middx, ‘Severall New Manufactures of Earthenwares, called by the Names of White Gorges, Marbled Porcellane Vessells, Statues, and Figures, and Fine Stone Gorges and Vessells, never before made in England or elsewhere; and alsoe discovered the Mistery of Transparent Porcellane, and Opacous, Redd, and Darke-coloured Porcellane or China and Persian Wares, and the Mistery of the Cologne or Stone Wares,’ and is endeavouring to settle manufactures of all the said wares within this our kingdome of England; and hee having humbly besought vs, to grant vnto him our Letters Patents for the sole vse and exercise of the same for the terme of fowrteene years, according to the Statute in that case provided, wee are gratiously pleased to condescend to that his request.

“KNOW YEE THEREFORE, that wee being willing that the said John Dwight may reap some reasonable recompence and compensacon for his great charge and paines in and about the premisses, and to incourage the inventers of such arts as may be of publick vse and benefitt, of our especiall grace, certeine knowledge, and meere mocon, have given and granted, and by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and grant, vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, speciall licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that hee, the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, and every of them, by themselves, or their deputy or deputys, servants or agents, or such others as the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall at any time agree with, and noe others, from time to time and at all times dureing the terme of yeares hereafter in these presents expressed, shall and lawfully may vse, exercise, and enioy the said Invencons of new manufactures within any part or parts, place or places whatsoever, of, in, or belonging to our kingdome of England, dominion of Wales, and all and every or any of our kingdomes and dominions whatsoever, in such manner, and according to such reasonable and lawfull rates and limitacons, as to him, the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, or any of them, shall in their discrecons seeme meet, and that hee, the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, shall and may have and enioy the sole benefitt, profitt, comodity, and advantage from time to time coming, growing, and arising by reason of the said Invencons of new manufactures, for and dureing the full terme of yeares hereafter menconed; to have, hold, exercise, and enioy the said licence, powers, privileges, and advantages hereinbefore granted or menconed to be granted vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, for and dureing and vnto the full end and terme of fourteene yeares from the day of the date of these presents next and imediately ensueing and fully to be compleate and ended according to the Statute in this case made and provided; and to the end that the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, and every of them, may enioy the full benefitt and the sole vse and exercise of the said Invencons of new manufactures according to our gratious intencons hereinbefore declared, wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, require and strictly comand all and every person and persons, bodys politique and corporate, and all other our subiects whatsoever, of what estate, quality, or degree, name, or condicon soever they be, within all and every our kingdomes & dominions, that neither they nor any of them, at any time dureinge the continuance of the said terme of fowrteene yeares hereby granted, either directly or indirectly doe, vse, or put in practise the said Invencons of new manufactures, or any of them, or any part of the same soe atteined vnto by the said John Dwight as aforesaid, nor shall in anywise counterfeite or resemble the said Invencons of manufacture, or any of them, nor shall make or cause to be made any addicon thereto or substraccon from the same, whereby to pretend themselves the inventers or devisers thereof, without the licence, consent, or agreement of the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, in writing vnder his, their, or some of their hands and seales, first had and obteyned in that behalfe, vpon such paines and penaltys as can or may be iustly inflicted on such offenders for their contempt of this our Royall comand; and further to be answerable to the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, according to law for his and their damages thereby to be susteined. And wee doe, of our further especiall grace, certeine knowledge, and meere mocon, for vs, our heires and successors, grant vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, by these presents, that hee, they, and every of them, and his, their, and every of their deputys, agents, and servants, haveing first obteined a lawfull warrant from the Lord Chiefe Justice of our Court of King’s Bench at Westm for the time being, and with the assistance of a constable or any other lawful officer, at convenient times in the day dureing the terme hereby granted, and in lawfull manner, may enter into and make search in any place or places whatsoever within any of our kingdomes and dominions where there shall be iust cause of suspicon for the discovery and finding out of all and every person and persons as shall imitate or cause to be imitated, or shall vse or put in practise the said Invencons of new manufactures, or any of them, or shall make or counterfeite any instruments or materialls to the same belonging, that soe such offender or offenders may be proceeded against and punished according to law. And further, wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, will, authorise, and comand all and singular justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bayliffes, constables, head-boroughs, and all other officers and ministers whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors, for the time being, as well within our kingdome of England and dominion of Wales, as within all and every other our kingdomes and dominions, that they and every of them respectively be from time to time dureing the terme hereby granted, in their respective offices, favouring, aiding, helping, and assisting vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, and to his and theire deputy and deputys, servants and agents, in and by all things in and about the accomplishment of our Royall will and pleasure hereinbefore declared, and in the exercise and execucon of the powers and privileges hereby granted as aforesaid. And moreover wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, will and comand that our said respective officers and ministers before menconed, or any of them, doe not, nor shall att any time hereafter dureing the said terme hereby granted, in anywise, molest, trouble, or hinder the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, or any his or their deputys, servants, or agents, in or about the due and lawfull vse or exercise of the aforesaid Invencons, or any of them, or anything relateing therevnto: Provided always, and these our Letters Patents are and shalbe vpon this condicon, that if at any tyme dureing the said terme hereby granted it shalbe made appeare to vs, our heires or successors, or any six or more of our or their Privy Councell, that this our present grant is contrary to law or preiudiciall or inconvenient to our subiects in generall, or that the said Invencons and every of them are not new invencons as to the publick vse and exercise thereof within this our kingdome, and not invented and found out by the said John Dwight as aforesaid, then vpon significacon and declaracon thereof to be made by us, our heires or successors, vnder our or their signett or privy seale, or by the lords and others of our or their Privy Councell, or any six or more of them vnder their hands, these our Letters Patents shall forthwith cease, determine, and be vtterly void to all intents and purposes, any thing before herein conteined to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding: Provided alsoe, that these our Letters Patents or any thing therein conteined shall not extend or be construed to extend to give privilege vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, or any of them, to vse or imitate any invencon or worke whatsoever which hath been heretofore found out or invented by any other of our subiects whatsoever, and publicly vsed or exercised within our said realme and dominions, or any of them, vnto whom we have already granted our like Letters Patents of Privilege for the sole vse, exercise, and benefitt thereof, it being our will and pleasure that the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, and all and singular other person and persons to whom we have already granted our like Letters Patents or privileges, as aforesaid, shall distinctly vse and practise their severall invencons by them invented and found out according to the true intent and meaning of the said Letters Patents and of these presents. And lastly wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors, grant vnto the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, that these our Letters Patents or the inrollment thereof shalbe in and by all things firme, valid, sufficient, and effectuall in the law according to the true intent and meaneing thereof, and shalbe taken, construed, and adiudged in the most favourable and beneficiall sense for the best advantage of the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, aswell in all Courts of Record as elsewhere, and by all and singular the officers and ministers whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors in all and singular our realmes and dominions whatsoever, and amongst all and every the subiects of us, our heires and successors, whatsoever and wheresoever, notwithstanding the not full and certaine describing the nature or quality of the said Invencons, or any of them, or of the materialls thereto conduceing or belonging, or any other defects or incertaintys in these presents contained, or any act, statute, ordinance, provision, proclamacon, or restriccon, or other matter, cause, or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

In witnesse, &c. Witnesse Ourselfe at Westm, the Twelfth day of June. By Writt of Privy Seale.

In 1694[40] Houghton thus, in his “Letters on Husbandry and Trade,” wrote[41] while speaking of the tobacco-pipe clays, “gotten at or nigh Pool, a post-town in Dorsetshire, and there dug in square pieces, of the bigness of about half a hundredweight each; from thence ’tis brought to London, and sold in peaceable times at about eighteen shillings a ton, but now in this time of war is worth about three and twenty shillings,” And again he says: “This sort of clay, as I hinted formerly, is used to clay sugar; and the best sort of mugs are made with it, and the ingenious Mr. Daught of Fulham tells me that ’tis the same earth China-ware is made of, and ’tis made, not by lying long in the earth, but in the fire; and if it were worth while, we may make as good China here as any is in the world. And so for this time, farewel Clay.” Again, on “March 13, 1695,” he thus writes: “Of China-ware I see but little imported in the year 1694, I presume by reason of the war and our bad luck at sea. There came only from Spain certain, and from India certain twice. ’Tis a curious manufacture, and deserves to be encourag’d here, which without doubt money would do; and Mr. Dowoit at Fulham has done it, and can again in any thing that is flat: but the difficulty is that if a hollow dish be made, it must be burnt so much that the heat of the fire will make the sides fall. He tells me that our clay will very well do it; the main skill is in managing the fire. By my consent, the man that would bring it to perfection should have for his encouragement one thousand pound from the publick, though I help’d to pay a tax towards it.”

Although no specifications are preserved with Dwight’s patents,[42] I am enabled, through the extreme kindness and courtesy of the present owner of the works, C. I. C. Bailey, Esq., to give recipes for the manufacture of porcelain, &c., in Dwight’s own words, and copied from his own private pocket-books. These two extremely curious books were recently discovered among some old account books and their discovery throws considerable light on the history of the plastic art at this period. One of these books, which is bound in vellum, contains on its outside front cover the words:—

“All that is in this

book was enterd since

9 ber 15 1695;”

but the other contains many earlier entries, from 1691. Both the books are in Dwight’s own handwriting. Among the number of curious recipes are the following, which possess more than ordinary interest.

“To make transparent Porcelane or China Cley.—Take fine white thirty pounds. Best cley sifted twenty pounds. Mingle & tread. This works strong and may be wrought thin vpon ye wheel.

“To make another transparent porcelane or China Cley.—Take fine white thirty pounds. Best Cley fifteen pounds. Mingle and tread. This works weaker and thicker but burns very clear with low fire.

“To make red porcelane Cley.—Take Cley sifted twenty pounds. Ffine dark Earth fifteen pounds. White ꝑ. Cyprus five pounds. Mingle & tread.

“To make a bright red Cley wth Staffordshire red Cley.—Take sifted Staffordshire Cley thirty pounds. ffine dark twenty pounds. Mingle & tread.

“The fine Stone Cley.—Take sifted cley sixty pounds ffine white fourteen pounds. ffine white sand sifted ten pounds. Mingle and tread. The best way of weighing and mingling this Cley is, 1, To weigh thirty pounds of Cley & put that into ye mingling box, 2, To weigh thirty pounds of Cley and put that also into ye mingling box. Spreading all the Cley till it lye Leuell. 3, Then weigh fourteen pounds of fine white, & ten pounds of fine white sand, and pour ym together upon the Cley, and spread them to lye leuell, yn mingle all ye grate Shouell.

“The fine white Cley for Gorges & Cans.—Take Cley sifted three and thirty pound, ffine white thirty pounds. Mingle & tread. The readiest way of weighing and mingling this Cley is 1st, Weigh three and thirty pounds of Cley and put it into ye mingling box, spreading it abroad till it lye leuell, 2, Weigh thirty pounds of fine white, put it into the mingling box vpon the Cley, spreading it to the leuell, then mingle them with ye grate Shouell.

“The like fine white Cley in smaller quantity if occasion require.—Take Cley sifted two & twenty pounds, ffine white twenty pounds. Weigh the white first, and lay the Cley a top, mingling ym in the scale.

“The fine white Cley for dishes or Teapots to endure boiling water.—Take Cley sifted two & twenty pounds ffine white twenty pounds. White ꝑ. Cyprus six pounds. Weigh these one vpon another and mingle them in ye Scale.

“‘9ber[43] 1695. An Essay towards a China Glasse.—Take calcin’d sand six ounces, ffine white sand two ounces. Mingle and melt them vnder the ffurnace into a white hard glasse. Take of the set white hard glasse beated & sifted half a pound. White Lead two ounces. Mingle & melt them into a glasse to be ground for a china glasse.’ ‘Not (note) yt in burning China you must set pots near the wideness of ye Arches and set them 6 inches distant from one another and from the wall. The little furnace where the last Red Teapots were burnt I take to be a convenient one for this vse.’

“1691 March 14. To make a gray Porcellane by Salt.—Take eighteen pound of fine white Earth, two pound of fine pale Earth, twenty pound of Cley, six pound of vnground White Earth sifted through Cyprus sieve; mingle & tread. This is a strong hardy Cley, fit for Garden pots, teapots, dishes &c.

“1691 March 15. To make a blew porcellane Cley to be turn’d into vessells or to spot and inlay pots of any other Porcellane.—Take fiue pounds of Cley, fiue pound of ye fine White Earth, one pound of zaffer fine ground-dryd and done through a midling hair Sieve, mingle & tread. If it be wetted with the white water ’twill be the brighter.

“To make another blew porc: Cley more bright.—Take six pound of fine White Earth, four pound of Cley, one pound of zaffer ground fine dry’d & sifted through ye midling hair sieve, mingle, and tread them wth the white water.

“1692 July 12. To make a blew porcell: Cley of inlaying or to turn into vessells.—Take fine white two ounces. White ꝑ. Cyp’s sieve one ounce. Best Smalt one ounce. Cley three ounces.

“1693 9ber 14. To make transparent porcellane or China Cley.—Take fine white Earth thirty pounds. Cley sifted twenty pounds. Mingle & tread.

“To make another transparent porcellane or China Cley.—Take fine white Earth thirty pounds, Cley sifted fifteen pounds. Mingle and tread.”

Other recipes are:

“Light grey Cley to endure boiling water;” “ffiner light grey Cley for ye like vses;” “Mouse coloured cley to endure boiling water;” “ffiner mouse coloured Cley for ye same vse;” “1698 Apr: 6. To make Number Sixteen;” “The best White Cley to make Gor: Cans, or dishes to endure boiling water;” “To make ye White Earth;” “To make the White Earth in larger quantity at one time;” “To make the Dark Earth;” “To make fine White;” “To make fine Dark;” “To make calcin’d Sand;” “To make white ꝑ. Cyprus;” “To make ye Black Earth;” “A fine brown colour wth out Grinding;” “To make a fine bright and strong brown;” “To make ye brightest brown colour;” “Cley to burn brown;” “for marbling stone-pots;” “White to marble ston pots;” “Another grey for marbl: stone pots;” “To make a fine white porcellane Cley to be burnt wth Salt fitt only for things of ornament;” “Grey Cley for ye like vse;” “A darker Cley for ye same vse;” “A Mouse colour’d Porcellane wth white specks;” “A bright Mouse colourd Cley to endure boiling water;” “A fine porcellane Cley fit for deep dishes wth out handles to be burnt wth out glasse in the strongest fire that may serve to perfect ye China ware. ℞ Cley twenty pounds. ffine White twenty pounds. fine Black Earth two pounds. White ꝑ Cyprus sieve six pounds. Mingle & tread;” “The best Dark Earth;” “The fine grinding of the Dark Earth;” “The best browne glasse for white browne pots;” “To make the Dark Earth;” “A dark colour’d Cley for marbled dishes and teapots to endure boiling water;” “The Mouse colour’d Cley to endure boiling water;” “Another lesse red Cley;” “To make a grey porcellane Clay hardy & fit for Garden Potts, Teapots &c.;” “Another lighter Grey Cley;” “To make a deep red Cley of the Staffordshire red Cley;” “Another good red of ye same Cley;” “Another Red Cley;” “To make a Cley to burn brown strong & hardy fit for teapots to be sprig’d white;” “To make ye best fine ston Clay;” “Wh: br: & wh: gor: to be excisd[44] Cley sixty pounds, White sand 12 pounds, ffine White 24 pounds.”

These extracts will be amply sufficient to show the interest and importance of these curious old books which have so kindly been placed at my disposal for this work by their owner, Mr. Bailey, but I cannot refrain from giving some extracts of a totally different character. These relate to the way Mr. Dwight had of being his own banker by hiding his money in all sorts of out-of-the-way corners of his pot-works until wanted. Probably there may still be some of this “treasure-trove,” as well as his moulds and models, &c., to be turned on by some fortunate possessor of the place.

“1693 9ber.[45]—In ye garret in a hole vnder ye fire-place 240 G.[46] in a wooden box.[47]

“In ye old Labouratory at the old house, in two holes vnder the fire-place on both sides ye ffurnace in 2 half pint Gor: Couered 460.

“Behind the door of the Old Labouratory, & within ye end of ye bench, in a pot couered 200.

“In ye second presse in ye said Laboura: vnder some papers at ye bottome in a bag some mill’d money.[47]

“Behind ye doore of the little parlor old house in a corner some mill’d money.[47]

“In ye same little parlour behind some boxes just going into ye kitchen some mill’d money.[47]

“In ye second side hole at the bottome of ye first ffurnace in ye kitchen on ye right hand going to ye chimney, pott of Gui:[46][47]

“between a little ffurnace & great one that joynes to ye oven behind Shouels & forks some Gui:[47] “Close by those Shouells wth in a hole into ye vent of ye same large furnace, Gui:[47]

“In two holes of that great furnace running in almost to the Ouen, 2 boxes full of mill’d money. May be drawn out wth a long crooked Iron standing behind ye kitchen door.[47]

“1698 Vnder ye lower shelfe in ye kitchen near ye Oven, 2 cans couer’d.

“In severall holes of ye ffurnace in ye middle of the kitchin opening at ye top where the sands lyes is a purse of 100 gui: & seuerall Cans couer’d.

“At ye further End of the bottome hole of my furnace in the little parlour a box of 200l.”

There are also many other matters of interest in these books; among them the names of

evidently in her own handwriting, and which I take to mean “Lydia Dwight, her book, Fulham, 15”—the 15 being her age, which is arrived at by adding the figures together as they occur in form of a cross, 1, 2, 8, and 4.

“Ly D. Lewin,” “Lydia Dwigh,” “Mrs. Deb Nel,” “Mrs. Deb N,” “Mary,” “Deb Nel,” “Miss Betty Osgood,” “Miss Lucy,” “Miss Betty Osgood,” and “Miss Molly Osgood,” are also scribbled in different parts of the book.

Dwight is stated to have buried, in like manner as he did his money, all his models, tools, moulds, &c., in some still-unknown secret hiding-place of his manufactory that his descendants might not continue that branch of the trade which he had been the first to invent; and very securely he has, evidently, done this; for, whatever may be found in future alterations and excavations, it is certain that these have never yet been brought to light. A few years ago, however, after taking down some of the old buildings, which had become much dilapidated, the workmen, while digging foundations for the new workshops, &c., discovered a vaulted chamber or cellar which had been firmly walled up, and which, on being broken into, was found to contain a number of stoneware grey-beards or bellarmines and ale-pots, &c., undoubtedly of Dwight’s manufacture. These were of the same form, precisely, as the old Cologne ones which they were intended to, and did, supersede in this country—and were those “fine stone gorges never before made in England”—and for which his patent was granted. One of these, presented to me by the present proprietor of the works, Mr. Bailey, I here engrave (Fig. [338]).

Fig. 338.

Nothing, at present, is known as to when the death of John Dwight took place, or who succeeded him. A Dr. Dwight died at Fulham in 1737, who, according to the Gentleman’s Magazine of that year, was “author of several curious treatises on physic. He was the first that found out the secret to colour earthenware like china;” but this was not John Dwight, as supposed by some writers, but Samuel Dwight, who, in 1722, published “De Vomitione, et Purgatione, eorumque excessu curando, necnon de emiticis Medicamentis, de Catharticis, et Variolis, et Morbillis;” in 1725, “De Hydropibus;” and in 1731, “De Febribus, Symptomaticis.” As the death of this Samuel Dwight took place in 1737, or sixty-six years after the date of John Dwight’s patent, the probability is that he was the son of John Dwight, and that his finding out the secret of colouring earthenware like china took place while engaged in his father’s business. About this time it would appear (probably after the death of Samuel Dwight) the business was carried on by a Margaret Dwight, in partnership with Thomas Warland, and these two—Margaret Dwight and Thomas Warland of Fulham, potters—became bankrupt in 1746. This lady is said afterwards to have married a Mr. White, or Wight, who continued the works. In 1762 “William White, of Fulham, in the county of Middlesex, potter,” took out a patent for the manufacture of “white crucibles or melting potts made of British materials, and never before made in England or elsewhere, and which I have lately sett up at Fulham aforesaid,” and which were composed of “Stourbridge clay and Dorsetshire clay, calcined; mix them with Woolwich sand and water, to be trodden with the feet, and then burned.” For these he had, in the previous year, obtained a premium from the Society of Arts. In 1795 the works were, according to Lysons, “carried on by Mr. White, a descendant in the female line of the first proprietor,” and they were so continued until 1862, when, on the death of the then Mr. White, they passed into the hands of Messrs. Makintosh and Clements. Two years later, however, on the death of Mr. Makintosh, the works were sold to the present proprietor, Mr. C. I. C. Bailey, who shortly afterwards considerably enlarged and improved them; he having built a new factory and introduced the newest and most improved machinery.

The articles and the wares made by the Dwights will have been pretty well understood from the foregoing notice; but, in addition, it is essential to speak of some few well-authenticated examples which still exist. About the time of the sale in 1862, Mr. Baylis, of Priors Bank, obtained from the Fulham works a number—about twenty-five—of extremely curious and historically valuable specimens of the ware produced there by the Dwights, and kept in the family. Of these he sent a brief account to the Art-Journal,[48] a part of which I here transcribe:—

“The first is a dish, said, and with more than mere probability, to be one of a dinner set manufactured for the especial service of Charles II. It is of a round form and large size, being 64½ inches in circumference. The groundwork is a rich blue, approaching to the ultramarine; it is surrounded by a broad rim nearly four inches wide, formed by a graceful border of foliage and birds in white, and shaded with pale blue. The whole of the centre is occupied by the royal arms, surmounted by its kingly helmet, crown and lion crest. The arms themselves are encircled with the garter, on which is inscribed the well-known motto, ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense.’ The arms and supporters rest upon a groundwork of foliage, in the middle of which is the motto, ‘Dieu et mon Droit.’ The workmanship of this piece of crockery is of very superior character, and a dinner set of similar ware would make many a modern one look poor. The solitary specimen left of this once-magnificent royal dinner service is believed to be by far the finest extant of this early English manufacture, and includes five classical figures of brown ware, of admirable execution, testifying to the skill and taste of the Italian workmen: they consist of Saturn—at least we presume it is meant for him, as he is represented with a child in his arms, which he seems to be on the point of devouring, according to his agreement with his brother Titan. He has already got the child’s hand in his mouth, and the bite of his teeth is by no means agreeable to his offspring, as is evident by the expression of pain on his countenance. The next figure is Jupiter, the third is Neptune, the fourth Mars, and the fifth either Adonis or Meleager, the emblem of the boar’s head applying to either—the former being killed by a boar; the latter having killed the boar; and as the head is cut off, and lying at his feet, it is most probably Meleager, as he cut off the head of the beast and presented it to Atalanta. The grey ware consists of a bust of Charles II.; a bust of his queen, Catherine of Braganza; another of James II., and a companion one of his queen, Mary d’Este—all four of meritorious execution and excellent likenesses; a statuette of Flora; a likeness of one of the Dwight family, thirteen inches high; another of Adonis, same height; and a likeness of a lady; a portrait of one of the Dwights; a smaller pair of statuettes of a gentleman and lady of the court of Charles II., probably intended as likenesses; a curious figure, or rather bust, of one sleeping, or rather lying on a pillow, for it was a death likeness, and is inscribed ‘Lydia Dwight, dyd March the 3rd, 1762;’ a drinking cup, called Hogarth’s cup—it is lettered ‘Midnight Conversation,’ and and has on it a representation of Hogarth’s picture in raised figures, and also four arms of the City companies. There are also four brown liqueur bottles, with white figures in relief, temp. Charles II., with his initial letter; and one or two specimens, such as a butter-boat and a couple of pickle saucers of fine grey ware; but these appear of a somewhat different kind of manufacture, and may have been brought from Delft.”[49]

Other productions were flip-cans, gorges, grey beards, ale pots, bottles, mugs, single figures and groups, busts, statuettes, flasks, leaf-dishes, &c. In the Jermyn Street Museum are some examples of this ware, and others may be found in various private collections. Among the latter may be named an historically interesting flip-can, belonging to “Robinson Crusoe,” and carefully preserved by his family. It bears the incised inscription—

“Alexander Selkirke. This is my one

When you take me on bord of ship

Pray fill me full with punch or flipp

Fulham,”

and is said to have been made for him in or about 1703.

The goods now made at these works, by Mr. Bailey, are glazed and unglazed stoneware, porous ware, terra-cotta, and china. In stoneware, or “Bristol ware,” all the usual domestic vessels—in bottles, pitchers, jars, pans, drinking-mugs, tobacco-pots, feet, carriage, and chest warmers, funnels, bird fountains, barrels, filters, &c.—are made very extensively, as also are drain and sanitary pipes, traps, &c., of every description. The stoneware is of the hardest, finest, and most durable character, and the glaze is remarkably good. To this excellent quality is to be attributed the success of these works, Mr. Bailey supplying, I believe, the large house of Crosse & Blackwell, as well as many distillers, chemists, and shippers, with their stoneware, both for home and export trade, and constantly increasing his business and premises. Works of art of a high order, in his stoneware, terra cotta, china, and other productions, are now executed. For the stoneware department, M. Cazin, late Director of the School of Art at Tours, in France, has been engaged chiefly to design figured and other fancy jugs, mugs, cannettes, &c. Some of these, with armorial bearings and other decorations in incised lines, or impressed, are remarkably good adaptations of the antique. A cannette, in my own possession, bearing the artist’s name, “CAZIN, 1872, STUDY,” is remarkably good, and gives evidence of great things to follow. Another example, also in my own possession, and made expressly for me, is of excellent form and remarkably pure and simple design. It bears an admirably modelled armorial medallion, with arms, crests, helmet, mantling, &c., and is likewise decorated with incised and relief ornaments. On the bottom is the date, incised, “1873,” and on the handle the artist’s name, C. CAZIN, also incised. In 1872 Mr. Bailey received a medal at the Dublin Exhibition for his stoneware and terra cotta.

Mr. Bailey has introduced a marked improvement in the construction of filters—the water passing downwards at the back, and then rising in zig-zag direction by its own force to the tap at the top in front—thus the water has to travel a much further distance through the filtering matter (as shown by the arrows in the section) than the old method, and having to be taken a far more circuitous course, it is brought more thoroughly in contact with the purifying medium. The usual method is for the water to pass perpendicularly down or up, but in these filters the water is kept a considerable time in contact with the charcoal and other ingredients, and any sediment is left at the bottom, instead of forming a compact mass of filth for the water to pass through each time it is filled.

Fig. 339.

Terra-cotta stoves, of simple and effective construction, are also extensively made at these works. In “Sunderland Ware”—i.e. brown ware, white inside—cream pots, starch pans, milk bowls, dishes, trays, and basins are largely manufactured.

Chemical apparatus—receivers, retorts, evaporating dishes, condensing worms, filtering and other funnels, still heads, &c.,—are a speciality in these works, and are of high repute.

These various goods were thus spoken of in the Official Report of the International Exhibition, 1871:—

“Mr. Bailey exhibits some samples of well-made chemical ware of a highly vitreous and durable body, consisting of acid tanks, retorts, receivers, condensing worms, and other vessels. He sends one or two specimens of sewer pipes, well burnt, and of dense body. His contribution of Bristol ware, for excellence of make, glaze, and colour, is equal to any exhibited, and comprises, among many other things, an ingenious ascension filter, in which, by a certain arrangement of stoneware discs in the interior, the water is more exposed to the filtering material than in ordinary filters. A churn, entirely constructed of stoneware, by this exhibitor, is also well worth notice; it is stated to be exceedingly rapid in its action.”

In terra-cotta, the Fulham Works now produce vases, statues, architectural enrichments, chimney shafts, stoves, &c., of very good quality and of admirable design; Mr. R. W. Martin, sculptor, student of the Royal Academy and Government Schools of Art, having been engaged as modeller and designer. The productions in this department are of a very high order of merit, and will take rank with those of any other manufactory. The brackets and jardinières are of great beauty, and are characterised by a pure artistic feeling and a touch such as is seldom attained; the pieces bear evidence of being not only modelled by a clever artist, but of receiving finishing-touches by the master-hand itself. In colour the Fulham terra cotta is a light pink and a rich red, and, when these are combined, a peculiar delicacy and finished effect is produced. The mark R. W. Martin fecit occurs on the productions of this artist.

The manufacture of china ware was, during the year 1873, very wisely and successfully added to this establishment, and, with the aid of the good workmen and artists who have been engaged, has already done much to establish a fresh fame for Fulham. The art direction of this branch was placed by Mr. Bailey in the hands of Mr. E. Bennet, a well-known sculptor, while the china body flowers, &c., were undertaken by Mr. Hopkinson. I am the more particular in stating these arrangements as, being the beginning of a new manufacture, I am desirous of putting on record the circumstances of its commencement. The “body,” it may be well to note, is made from Dwight’s original recipe—the very body of which the first china ware made in England was produced—and therefore the “Fulham china” of to-day has an historical interest attached to it which is possessed by no other. It was a wise thought that induced Mr. Bailey to restore to Fulham the special manufacture which has rendered its name famous in the ceramic annals of this country; and it is to be hoped that the spirit he has shown will be amply compensated by a liberal patronage of his productions.

The marks used by Mr. Bailey are:—

At the 1871 Exhibition (at which no medals were given) Mr. Bailey’s productions were highly spoken of in the Official Report; and at the Dublin Exhibition of 1872 he was awarded a medal for his terra cotta and stoneware.