Fig. 613.—Coalport China Works, from a painting by Muss.

Coalport.

One of the most flourishing, most important, and most successful in art-productions of any in the kingdom are the Coalport works, at one time also known as “Coalbrook Dale,” to whose history I now devote a few pages. The founder of these works was Mr. John Rose, a man of wondrous skill and enterprise, to whom the ceramic art is indebted for many important improvements. Mr. Rose, who was the son of a farmer in the neighbourhood of Caughley, was apprenticed to Mr. Thomas Turner, of the Caughley China Works, by whom he was taken into the house, and taught the art of china making in all its branches. Here he remained for several years; but ultimately, from causes which it is not necessary to enter upon, a difference arose between them, and Mr. Rose left Mr. Turner, and commenced a small business on his own account at Jackfield, in the immediate neighbourhood. Here he did not remain long, but removed his works to Coalport, on the opposite bank of the Severn, where he fixed himself in some buildings which had previously been a small pottery belonging to a Mr. Young, a mercer of Shrewsbury, and in these buildings in part they have continued to the present day. Mr. John Rose had not long established himself at Coalport, it appears, before he met with opposition; for other works were started on the opposite side of the canal, and only a few yards distant, by his brother, Mr. Thomas Rose, and partners, who commenced business under the style of “Anstice, Horton, and Rose.” These works, however, did not continue long, but passed into the hands of Mr. John Rose and his partners, who, with other additions, formed them into one establishment. In the space of three or four years from the establishment of the Coalport works by Mr. Rose, he had so successfully carried on his business that the Caughley works of Mr. Turner had become greatly reduced, and were gradually beaten out of the market. In 1799 Mr. Turner, of the Caughley works, gave up the business and sold the concern to Messrs. Rose & Co., who thus became proprietors of both works, as well as of those commenced by the brother of Mr. Rose. Both manufactories were then continued by them, thus giving a great increase to the establishment, and rendering it one of the most extensive in the kingdom.

In 1803 Messrs. Blakeway, Rose, and Horton having become bankrupt, a question as to the ownership of the remainder of the Caughley manufactory arose and was submitted to arbitration. The following is the award, for which I am indebted to my friend Mr. Hubert Smith:—

“To all to whom these presents shall come we Ralph Wedgwood of Bransford in the county of Worcester Gentleman and William Horton of Coalport in the county of Salop Gentleman send greeting Whereas by articles of agreement in writing bearing date the Thirteenth day of December last past and made between Thomas Turner of Caughley in the county of Salop Esquire of the one part and Timothy Yate of Madeley in the county of Salop Charles Guest and Elias Prestwich of Broseley in the county of Salop Gentlemen of the other part Reciting that by a Memorandum of an Agreement bearing date the Twelfth day of October One thousand seven hundred and ninety nine and made between the said Thomas Turner of the one part and Edward Blakeway John Rose and Richard Rose of Coalport in the said county of Salop porcelain manufacturers of the other part The said Thomas Turner did agree to assign amongst other things all his interest in a Lease from Mr. Browne to him of the several works buildings and erections called Caughley China Works and also the colliery then held under lease by him from Mr. Browne to the said Edward Blakeway John Rose and Richard Rose The said Thomas Turner also agreed to assign to the said Edward Blakeway and Co. the unglazed stock of goods then in and about the said manufactory and all the materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery belonging to the said manufactory and colliery And it was agreed that the said Edward Blakeway and Company should have and be entitled to the same liberties and privileges so far as respected the said manufactory and colliery as the said Thomas Turner was entitled to and that the said colliery should be worked in a fair and workmanlike manner and that the clod and middle coals so far as they were getable together or separate to be got so that the best coals should not be got without the clod and middle coals The said Edward Blakeway and Company to pay Mr. Turner Five hundred pounds per annum for the residue of the term and interest in his lease by half-yearly payments as herein mentioned provided the said coals so to be got should not be sufficient for the use of the said manufactory and the best coals should be exhausted the said Edward Blakeway and Company should be at liberty to give up the said works and premises to the said Thomas Turner at the end of any half year during the remainder of the term by which the same premises were held upon giving him six months notice in writing for that purpose and leaving the materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery then employed thereat not diminishing the same in the mean time But if the said Edward Blakeway and Company should be desirous of continuing the said works and premises till the expiration of the said term the said Thomas Turner agreed to make an allowance of Two hundred pounds per annum out of the said sum of Five hundred pounds per annum from the time the said best coals should be exhausted if the quantity of best coals used had not exceeded upon the average eighteen tons per week, each ton containing forty eight hundred and it was thereby further agreed that in case any dispute or question should arise between the said parties touching any clause article matter or thing therein contained the same was to be referred to and settled by two indifferent persons one to be chosen by each party and in case they should not agree as to the same then by an umpire to be named by the said two persons whose determination should be final And further reciting that the said Edward Blakeway and John Rose together with Robert Winter their partner who then lately held the said works and premises had lately been declared Bankrupt and the said Timothy Yate Charles Guest and Elias Prestwich chosen assignees of their estate and effects and that they the same assignees had lately contracted to sell all their right title and interest to and in the said Caughley China Works Colliery and Premises unto Cuthbert Johnson and William Clarke Esquires And further reciting that a doubt or question had arisen whether the said materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery were to be the property of the said Thomas Turner at the end of the said term or whether they were to become his property in the event only of the said Agreement being determined before the expiration of the said term And that the same parties had therefore mutually agreed to refer the said doubt or question to the decision of the said Ralph Wedgwood and William Horton and in case they could not agree then to such person as they should name umpire in the premises And that the said Thomas Turner had agreed to sell and the said Timothy Yate Charles Guest and Elias Prestwich had agreed to purchase all the right and interest of the said Thomas Turner of and in the said materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery at such a price or sum of money as should be fixed thereon by the said Ralph Wedgwood and William Horton or their umpire to be named as aforesaid And further reciting that a dispute had arisen between the said Thomas Turner and the said Timothy Yate Charles Guest and Elias Prestwich respecting the manner in which the said colliery or coalwork had been managed and carried on which dispute or any other difference which might arise pending that reference as a consequence of the investigation of the claims of the respective parties the said parties had agreed should be adjusted and settled by the said Ralph Wedgwood and William Horton or their said umpire to be appointed by them in manner aforesaid It is by the Articles of Agreement now in recital witnessed that as well the said Thomas Turner as also the said Timothy Yate Charles Guest and Elias Prestwich did thereby for themselves severally and respectively and for their several and respective Heirs Executors and Administrators covenant promise and agree to and with each other and to and with his and their Executors and Administrators that they the said parties respectively their respective Executors and Administrators should and would well and truly stand to abide by perform fulfil and keep this award order or determination which the said Ralph Wedgwood and William Horton or their said umpire should make between them as well concerning the said doubt or question concerning the right and interest of the said Thomas Turner of and in the said materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery and the price or sum of money to be paid him for the same as also concerning the dispute which had arisen or which pending the said reference might arise between the said parties respecting the manner in which the said colliery or coalwork had been managed and carried on so as the award or umpirage be made in writing under the hands of the said Ralph Wedgwood and William Horton or their said umpire within twelve weeks from the date thereof But it was thereby agreed that that Agreement or any clause therein contained or the said award or umpirage to be made in pursuance thereof should not alter or extend to alter the rent and royalty reserved and made payable by the therein recited Agreement but that the same should remain payable upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned And for the true performance of that Agreement each of the said parties bound himself and themselves his and their Executors and Administrators to the other of them his Executors and Administrators mutually and reciprocally in the penalty of One thousand pounds As by the said recited Agreement reference being thereunto had will appear Now know ye that we the said Ralph Wedgwood and William Horton having duly examined and considered the said Agreement and the proofs and allegations of the said parties to the said reference and all such accounts documents and evidence as have been produced to us relating to the said materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery and also the said colliery coal-mines and premises do hereby award order decide and determine that the said materials implements fixtures copper plates moulds and machinery were by the said Agreement to be the property of the said Blakeway Rose and Rose at the end of the term mentioned in the said agreement and not the property of the said Thomas Turner but in the event only of the said Agreement being determined before the expiration thereof by six months notice being given in the manner in the said Agreement specified And we do further award order decide and determine that the said Timothy Yate Charles Guest and Elias Prestwich as such assignees as aforesaid shall pay unto the said Thomas Turner his Executors Administrators or Assigns for all his contingent or present right and interest of and in the said materials implements fixtures moulds copper plates and machinery the sum of One hundred pounds on or before the Twenty first day of May next And we do further award order decide and determine that the said colliery or coalwork hath been worked and carried on in a fair and workmanlike manner and according to the spirit of the said Agreement of the Twelfth day of October One thousand seven hundred and ninety nine and that therefore the said Thomas Turner not having been injured is not entitled to any compensation or damage from the said Blakeway Rose and Co. or their said Assignees in respect thereof Given under our hands this Sixth day of March One thousand eight hundred and four.

“Witness

Jn. Pritchard

On the 23rd October, 1799, an event occurred in connection with the works at Coalport which was most sad in its results. At that time a considerable number of the work-people and painters employed at the works resided at Broseley, and were in the habit of passing backwards and forwards across a ferry near the works. On this night, thirty-two persons, including the best artists, went on board the ferry-boat, which, about midwater, owing to the intoxicated state of the ferryman, was capsized, and twenty-nine were drowned. The principal painter at this time was an artist named Walker, and an unfinished piece of work of his—the piece he left in progress only a few minutes before he lost his life—is still preserved, with almost religious care, in the factory.

Soon after this time considerable additions were made at Coalport, and since then the manufactory has been constantly and considerably enlarged, and now occupies, I am told, considerably more ground than any other porcelain works in the kingdom.