Chesterfield.
The earliest potter in Chesterfield of whom there is any record is William Caskon, or Kaskon, who died 8th Henry VIII. (1517), and the next is Ralph Heathcote, who was both a potter, brazier, and bell-founder. This Ralph Heathcote, who had married Elizabeth, daughter of John Tomson (or Tomason, as it is variously spelled), brazier, of Chesterfield, became by will of his father-in-law (will dated October 1, 1496) executor. Tomson lived in Saltergate, in a house previously held by William Forneday and Margaret his wife, which was surrendered to him in 1483. This house was afterwards, in 1501, released to “Ralph Heathcote, of Chesterfield, Potter.” This is evidenced by two deeds, one by Thomas Moore, of Cuttethorpe, releasing the messuage in Saltergate to “Ralph Hethcote, of Chesterfield, Potter”; and the other from Thomas Moore, of Cuttethorp, and James Moore, of Syrley Grange, “to Ralph Hethecote, of Chesterfield, Potter,” a bond for £20 to secure peaceable possession of the messuage in the Saltergate, Chesterfield, late in the occupation of John Tomson, deceased, and W. Forneby, deceased.”
It is evident, from a deed of 8th Henry VIII. (1517), that Ralph Heathcote took to the trade and goods of William Caskon, potter, of Chesterfield, in that year. The deed is a receipt from “Isabel Kaskon, ye daughter of William Caskon, of Chesterfield, Potter, lately deceased,” to “Rauff Hethcote, of ye same place, brasier, for her child’s part of the goodes and money of the said William Caskon.”
In 1557–8 Robert Parker, of Chesterfield, gent., and Mary, his wife, son and heir of George Parker, deceased, of the one part, and Rauf Heathcott, of Chesterfield, potter, of the other part, released a tenement in Saltergate, and lands at Tapton Lane.
The manufacture of pottery continued uninterruptedly from Heathcote’s time downwards, although the names of the potters are not always to be found. In a scarce little book, entitled “A Short Tour in the Midland Counties of England performed in the Summer of 1772,” the following interesting notice of Chesterfield occurs:—
“Chesterfield is a large town; but, as I passed through, I saw nothing uncommon but the ugly church; it is old and built of bad stone, but rendered most disgusting by its wooden spire (covered with lead) being so much warped that I discovered its crookedness at three miles distance. In the town is a manufacture of pots. At Asher and many villages in the neighbourhood camomile is much cultivated.”
Pilkington, who wrote in 1789, says, speaking of the manufactures of Chesterfield:—
“Nor should it be omitted, that a large quantity of coarse earthenware is manufactured here. In this business three potteries are worked, which afford employment to about sixty hands.”
Sir Richard Phillips, who wrote his “Tour” in 1828, says, speaking of Chesterfield:—
“There are some potteries in this neighbourhood which employ about 200 persons, at wages of from 10s. to 13s. per week, and for better workmen, from 18s. to 25s. The description of manufacture is exclusively brown ware, except in one instance, which includes black also. The number of potteries is ten, and the larger part is for home consumption, though a small proportion is sent to the Dutch market.”