Brampton.
The manufacture of brown ware at Brampton has probably been established a couple of centuries. In the early part of the present century there were here six earthenware manufactories, which were carried on by the following persons:—Mrs. Blake (this now forms part of the works of Mr. Matthew Knowles); Mr. William Briddon (now continued by his son); Mr. Luke Knowles (now forming part of Mr. Matthew Knowles’ works); Mr. Thomas Oldfield (now continued by his nephew, Mr. John Oldfield); Mr. John Wright (now discontinued; it stood on what is now the site of the present rectory of St. Thomas’s Church); and that of Edward Wright and Son (still carried on by the family). At the present time there are eight manufactories, which will be separately spoken of presently. At these, brown ware of a remarkably hard and durable quality, and stoneware of the most impervious character, are made in great perfection and in immense quantities. The clays principally used are “Stone Edge,” or “Lidd clay,” found at East Moor, or Wadshelf, about three miles away, and “Brampton clay,” found in the immediate neighbourhood.
Figs. 95 and 96.
Figs. 97 and 98.
At Brampton, “posset pots” have, for some centuries, been, and still continue to be, made. Of these some notice is already given in vol. i., pp. [107] , [108] , and [418]. The two here engraved (Figs. [95 and 96]) show their general form; the one is dated 1750 and the other 1819. I have myself examples as late as 1874. Usually the name of the parties for whom they are made are incised in same manner as the pattern.
Another marked feature of Brampton, or “Chesterfield Ware,” has for a long period been the “puzzle jugs” there made. These, which are still produced on the old models, as well as in more modern applications of the principle, are made in a variety of shapes and of various sizes. In some the perforations in the neck and rim are more elaborate and intricate than in others, and some have three, five, or seven spouts. Commonly, as in Fig. [97], they are ornamented with figures or other designs in relief, but sometimes are plain.
Another usual class of design is that which includes jugs, mugs, and other vessels whose handles (Fig. [98]) are formed of more or less cleverly modelled greyhounds. Some of the larger of these mugs have two, others three, and others four, handles thus formed.
The Welshpool and Payne Potteries.—These works, belonging to Messrs. Matthew Knowles and Son, are among the largest in Brampton. They embrace the old works carried on last century by Mr. Blake, and afterwards by his widow, and those of Mr. Luke Knowles, with considerable additions. They came into the hands of Mr. Matthew Knowles about 1840, and were by him considerably enlarged. Recently he has been joined in partnership by his son, under the style of “Matthew Knowles & Son,” and the works were again in 1875 very much extended. At these works all the general descriptions of brown and stone ware goods are produced; but an immense number of articles are made for the Australian, Russian, African, and Jamaica markets, as well as for the home trade. Among the articles produced in large quantities at these works are stoneware spirit-bottles, and spirit kegs and barrels, which are much esteemed for their hardness and durability and their fine quality; ginger-beer bottles, both in stone ware and brown ware; jam jars, for wholesale preserve manufacturers (such as Grey, Dennett & Co., and others), in gallon and half-gallon sizes, in brown ware glazed inside, forming one of the staple productions of Mr. Knowles, and of which, with one exception, he is the only maker in the district; stew and sauce pots; fruit and other jars; flat dishes; turtle and beef pots; bowls and collanders; tobacco-jars, highly ornamented; “Punch” jugs of striking design, “hunting” jugs, “game” jugs, and other jugs designed and modelled with great taste; puzzle-jugs; posset-pots; candlesticks of classical design and good execution; bread-baskets; toast-racks; tea-kettles; flower-pots and vases; foot and carriage warmers; grotesque tobacco-pipes, and a large variety of other goods, besides the usual domestic vessels, are made at these works, and are as good as the common nature of the material will admit. The filters made by Mr. Knowles, of which he produces a large number, are of excellent construction, and of good design. They are among the best produced, and being in the fine deep rich colour of the “Chesterfield ware,” are very effective, and perhaps more pleasing in appearance than many others in the “Bristol ware,” &c. In china clay ware also a large variety of articles of remarkably good quality are made. It may be well to add that at these works the clay is prepared by steam. It is “blunged,” and then passed through a fine sieve, driven at considerable speed on a large flat iron boiler, heated by steam, where it is boiled to a proper stiffness. It is then passed through a pug-mill, and is ready for use. Mr. Knowles’s are the only works in Brampton where this process is adopted.
“The Pottery.”—These works were established, in 1810, by “Messrs. Oldfield, Madin, Wright, Hewitt & Co.,” by whom they were carried on. After various changes and retirements, Mr. John Oldfield became, in 1838, sole proprietor of the works, and under his name they continue at the present time. The works have from time to time been considerably extended; they are now nearly the largest in the district, and employ a large number of hands. The goods manufactured are the usual descriptions known as “New Brampton” or “Chesterfield ware,” or, as more frequently falsely called in the London and other markets, “Nottingham ware,”—a remarkably hard, compact, and durable salt-glazed brown ware; and stoneware, which is dipped in different “slips.” In “brown ware,” the principal goods produced are dishes and bowls of various kinds; turtle, beef, butter, Dutch, stew, sauce, and other pots; bottles and jars of all shapes and sizes, and for all uses; pitchers and jugs in endless variety; churns: milk-pans and pancheons; nappies and porringers; tea and coffee-pots; Welsh trays; carriage and feet-warmers; hare-pans and dog-troughs; spirit and wine-barrels and kegs; figured flower-pots and stands; scent jars; “hunting,” “cottage,” “tulip,” and other figured jugs and mugs; moulds for puddings, blanc-mange, jellies, &c., of great beauty and of excellent and even artistic design, and many other articles. In “antique ware,” Mr. Oldfield makes remarkably effective and well-designed hunting, game, cottage, tulip, and other jugs; figured Stilton-cheese stands; fruit-dishes and trays; tea and coffee-pots; tobacco-pots, some of which, with goblet and candlestick, are very striking; watch-stands; “Toby Fill-pot” jugs; small figures of stags, dogs, &c.; grotesque and twisted pipes; puzzle-jugs, &c. In stoneware many articles are also produced, the great bulk being bottles and spirit kegs of various kinds and of every size, from one pint up to ten or more gallons in capacity; and sanitary goods.
Filters also form a staple branch of the manufacture, and these are filted up on an exceedingly good principle, with vegetable charcoal, sand, &c., on the premises, and are supplied in large quantities both at home and for exportation. The manufacture of filters was here commenced in 1826.
The clays used and the processes observed in the manufacture may be briefly alluded to as follows:—
Five kinds of clay are here used, viz., Barclay, which is procured from Stanedge, near Wingerworth. This clay is used to make the arches which are technically called “Bars,” and two of them form nearly a semicircle that spans from side to side of the ovens and whereon the pots are placed. Setting-clay is a clay that is found on the peat-moss, near Stanedge, and is quite of a sandy nature: it acquires the name from its being rolled by the hands into “nobs” and placed upon the “Bars” to “set” the pots upon; unless this was used, the pots would have to be broken to get them off the “Bars.” The Lidd-clay (what is commonly called Fire-clay) is used in the lower parts of the “Ovens” or “Kilns,” because of its being stronger to resist the fire; this clay is procured from Loads, near Holymoorside, about two miles from Brampton. The next clay is the Brampton-clay which is burnt in the upper portion of the “Ovens,” because it will not stand the amount of fire that the Lidd-clay will, although it is of a much closer body, and, when glazed, will resist the action of any acids. Mixed-clay is burnt in the middle portion of the “Ovens;” it is, as its name implies, a mixture of the Brampton and Lidd-clay, of each about equal portions to suit the fire or heat in that portion of the ovens.
At these works spirit bottles of a similar character to the one engraved on Fig. [105] were made. One was a representation of Lord Brougham, with the words, “The true Spirit of Reform.”
Among the marks used by this firm are—
ESTABLISHED
1826
J. OLDFIELD & CO.
CHESTERFIELD
WATER FILTER
MANUFACTURERS,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
AND FOR
EXPORTATION.
OLDFIELD & CO
MAKERS
OLDFIELD & CO.
CHESTERFIELD.
J. OLDFIELD.
Figs. 99 to 102.
The Walton Pottery was built by William Briddon, the grandfather of the present proprietor, in 1790, and at his death was continued by his son, William Briddon. This gentleman died in 1848, and was succeeded by his son, William Briddon, the present proprietor. It has consequently, from the first to the present moment, been carried on by three generations of William Briddons. The goods made are brown ware and stoneware in all their varieties. In these are produced stew, souse, turtle, beef, and butter pots; jugs of every variety; preserve and pickle jars; pancheons, bowls, and cullenders; porringers and patty-pans; bottles of every conceivable size and shape; filters; spirit-barrels and kegs; foot-bottles and carriage-warmers; tea and coffee-pots; twisted and grotesque pipes, and many other articles. In quality they are much the same as those of other Brampton manufactories.
Wheatbridge Pottery.—These works have been in the family of their present proprietor for three generations. They are now carried on by Mrs. J. Walton Wright, the widow of the late proprietor. The staple trade of the manufactory is general brown ware for the Dutch markets.
The Alma Pottery was commenced by its present proprietor, Mr. Samuel Lowe, and his then partners, about 1852. After a few years Mr. Lowe’s two partners withdrew from the concern, and it has continued in his hands solely to the present time. The goods produced are the same general kinds, both of wares and articles, as the other Brampton potteries. In brown ware and in stoneware Mr. Lowe produces filters, bottles of every kind and size, jugs and mugs, jars of various descriptions, and all the articles usually produced in these wares, and of the same general quality as those of other works in the district.
Barker Pottery
, belonging to Mr. Henry Briddon. Here all the usual articles in brown ware are made.
The Pottery of Mr. William Briddon, Jun., produces the usual kinds of wares, and most of the articles, of the district.
The London Pottery, belonging to Messrs. F. Lipscombe & Co., of London, was established by them for the purpose of manufacturing their filters.