William Lyne, apprenticed July, 1778. The last apprentice to the works.
Bristol Earthenware.
Temple Backs.—In 1786 the pottery for fine earthenware was established at No. 9, Water Lane, Temple Street, called “Temple Back,” by Joseph Ring, as I have shown in my notice of that potter and his delft-ware productions on page 354. In January, 1787, the following highly interesting advertisement appeared in the Bristol Gazette and Public Advertiser:—
“Bristol Pottery, Temple Back.—Joseph Ring[97] takes this opportunity to inform merchants and others that he has established a manufactory of the Queen’s and other earthenware, which he will sell on as low terms, wholesale and retail, as any of the best manufacturers in Staffordshire can render the same to Bristol.”
Fig. 801.—Bristol Pottery in 1869.
In December of the same year, as is shown by an invoice of goods, the following goodly variety of articles was made: “oval dishes,” 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 inches respectively; “table plates;” “soups;” “suppers;” “twifflers;” “tureens;” “quart jugs;” “pint jugs;” “sallad dishes;” “coffee-pots;” “sugar dishes with covers;” “coffee cups;” “bowles;” “coffee cups and saucers, paynted;” “table plates, paynted;” “twifflers paynted;” “quart mugs variagated;” and “pint mugs variagated.” Mr. Ring’s friend and assistant, John Bettington, commemorated the establishment of this new manufacture by writing some songs for the Martinmas hiring festivities of the workmen. Two of these are printed by Mr. Owen. The first is entitled “The Bristol Pottery, by J. Bettington,” and is as follows:—
“Ye Gentleman all, I beg your attention,
Unto a few lines which now I shall mention,
A comical ditty of Bristol you’l hear,