Wilnecote.
The Wilnecote Works, near Tamworth, which rank among the more important in the kingdom, were established in 1860, when Mr. George Skey purchased the coal mines at this place, with the intention of working them. On sinking shafts for the purpose he fortunately discovered several important and valuable beds of fire-clay, and other clays well adapted for pottery purposes, and he wisely determined to at once erect suitable kilns and buildings for their full development. At great cost and under considerable disadvantages suitable workrooms were erected and fitted up with suitable machinery, steam presses, lathes, &c. Competent workmen were engaged, and the manufactory was opened in 1862. The goods produced were so well received and their quality so good, both as regard material and workmanship, as well as design, that the works had very shortly to be considerably enlarged and fresh workrooms, kilns, &c., erected. This was done, and at the present time the entire produce of the coal and clay pits (about 300 tons of coal and 300 tons of clay per week) is used up at the works, which give employment to several hundred persons. In 1864 Mr. Skey having found the concern grown to more than his own personal care could, single handed, control, formed it into a limited liability company, with a capital of £60,000, under the style of the “Wilnecote Company, Limited,” afterwards altered to the “George Skey and Company, Limited,” Mr. Skey being the managing director, and Mr. Thos. Creswell, secretary.
The goods produced are:—in terra-cotta, which is of fine and durable quality, and of excellent workmanship, fountains, vases, tazzas, brackets, pedestals, suspenders, terminals, flower-vases, mignonette-boxes, fern-stands, garden-seats, balustrades, cornices, chimney tops, and every description of architectural enrichment. Game-pie dishes, of admirable design and of perfect modelling, and other articles, are also produced in this material. The colour is a beautiful light cream colour, and the body being very fine the relief patterns “come out” very sharply and effectively. In “Rustic ware,” vases, garden-seats, flower-pots, brackets, fern-stands, and an infinite variety of beautiful articles are made. This “Rustic ware” is a fine buff coloured terra-cotta, glazed with a rich brown glaze, and sometimes heightened with a green tinge, just sufficient to give it a remarkably pleasing effect. The modelling of some of these goods is highly artistic. In stoneware, or Bristol ware, all the usual articles as made at Lambeth, at Bristol, and other places, are produced. In sanitary ware, all the usual and many additional articles are made; these are of remarkably fine and good quality and excellent both in body and glaze, and in firing. In ridging and roofing-tiles, sewerage-pipes, and garden-edgings, and in moulded bricks for cornices, string courses, &c., an endless variety; and in paving-tiles, and facing-bricks of various colours, as well as fire-bricks, all the usual kinds.
Terra-cotta gas-stoves are extensively made in various designs, some of which are registered. They are chaste and even elegant in design, and admirable in construction. Some of the patterns are in high relief, and others, in addition to the relief, are perforated, and have a striking and pleasing effect. Two of the designs are shown on Figs. [817 and 818].
Figs. 817 and 818.
The following is an analysis of Mr. George Skey’s Fire Clay, made by Mr. A. Winkler Willis’ of Wolverhampton:—Silica, hydrated, 71·41; detrydrated, 75·99. Alumina, hydrated, 21·17; detrydrated, 22·53. Protoxide of Iron, hydrated, ·91; detrydrated, ·97. Lime, hydrated, ·04; detrydrated, ·05. Magnesia, hydrated, a trace. Alkalies, hydrated, ·82; detrydrated, ·87. Manganese, Organic Matter, Sulphuric Acid, Chlorine, traces. Water, hydrated, 2·57. Water combined, hydrated, 3·49. Total, hydrated, 100·41; detrydrated, 100·41. Total Impurities, 1·89.
The mark used is the words GEORGE SKEY WILNECOTE WORKS NR TAMWORTH, in an oval, impressed in the ware.