CHAPTER II.
A PEASANT INDUSTRY.
Dr Plot seems to have visited the Potteries in 1677. In 1686 he published his “Natural History of Staffordshire.” Although he obviously takes the most lively interest in the dances of witches, and that strange chemical process called “striking with galls,” yet he was also a keen observer, and found time to set down the earliest account—and at the same time an intelligent account—of the North Staffordshire potting industry. A contemporary account of this early date must obviously be of the greatest importance, and it is here given in full.
“As for tobacco-pipe clays, they are found all over the County ... whereof they make pipes at Armitage and Lichfield ... also at Darlaston, but of late disused, because of better and cheaper found in Monway field betwixt Wednesbury and Willingsworth, which make excellent pipes. And Charles Rigg, of Newcastle, makes very good pipes of three sorts of clay; a white, and a blew, which he has from between Shelton and Handley Green.”
Slip decorated Staffordshire ware. c. 1660. In the Stoke-on-Trent Museums.
“The most preferable clay of any is that of Amblecot, of a dark blewish color, whereoff they make the best pots for the glass-houses of any in England; ... Other potters clays for the more common wares, there are ... at Horseley Heath, Tipton and in Monway field ... of these they make diverse sorts of vessells at Wednesbury, which they paint with slip made of a reddish sort of earth gotten at Tipton.
“But the greatest pottery they have in this County is carried on at Burslem, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, where for making their severall sorts of pots they have as many different sorts of clays, which they dig round about the towne, all within half a miles distance, the best being found nearest the coale; and are distinguished by their colours and uses as followeth:—
1. Bottle clay, of a bright whitish streaked yellow colour.
2. Hard-fire clay of a duller whitish colour, and fuller interspersed with a dark yellow, which they use for their black wares, being mixed with the