Figs. 804 and 805.
Crews-Hole.
A small stoneware pottery was established here by a clever but somewhat peripatetic potter, Anthony Amatt, originally of Derby, who was one of the workmen employed by Richard Champion at the famous Bristol china works. His works were merely a wooden shed or two, and the bulk of his productions were flower-pots. He afterwards, I believe, had a small pottery at Temple Gate, which came into the hands of Mr. Powell when Mr. Amatt entered into his employ. Previous to this it is believed a small pottery for producing the same kind of ware as that of Brislington had existed at Crewshole. In 1794–5 Amatt was living at Twerton, in Somersetshire; in those years he was extensively engaged in painting on earthenware and china for Mr. Egan, of Bath, brother-in-law of the second William Duesbury, of the Derby China Works. The original bills are in my own possession. He was afterwards a stocking weaver.
Westbury.
The Sugar House Pottery at Westbury, which had been for many years carried on by George Hart, passed, on the 8th of December, 1775, into the hands of Stephen Fricker, potter and publican, who was host of the Fountain tavern in High Street, Bristol. Besides sugar bakers’ moulds, which gave the name of “Sugar-house Pottery” to the works, the usual classes of flower-pots, chimney-tops, puncheons, pitchers, and other domestic coarse brown ware articles were made.
Easton.
A small manufactory was established here for the manufacture of various articles by a process for using the magnesian limestone of the district in its body. Many very creditable and artistic articles were produced, but the whole affair proved a failure, and the works were closed. The spill case (Fig. [806]) is said to have been made here.
Fig. 806.