In 1774 the names of thirteen “pot-makers,” one “mug maker,” and four “pipe makers” occur in “An exact List of the Burgesses and Freeholders of the town and county of Nottingham,” who voted at the election of Members of Parliament in that year, but of course these would mainly be journeymen. The names, which I here extract from a copy of this scarce book in my own possession, are as follows:—
- John Ash, pot maker, Bottle Lane.
- William Barns, pot maker, Barkergate.
- John Clayton, pipe maker, Bridge Foot.
- Moses Colclough, pot maker, Beck Barn.
- John Coppock, pot maker, Marsdens Court.
- Thomas Ellnor, pot maker, St. James’s Lane.
- Thomas Glover, pot maker, Warser Gate.
- John Handley, mug maker, Coalpit Lane.
- John Hazeley, pot maker, Bridlesmith Gate.
- Thomas Hough, pot maker, Beck Lane.
- William Lockett, pot maker, New Buildings.
- Benjamin Marshall, pipe maker, Parliament Street.
- James Sefton, pipe maker, Mary Gate.
- George Sefton, pipe maker, Mary Gate.
- Isaac Selby, pot maker, New Buildings.
- Leonard Twells, pot maker, Beck Lane.
- Samuel Wyer, pot maker, Boot Lane.
- John Wyer, sen., pot maker, Boot Lane.
In 1780, in “An exact list of the Burgesses of the town and county of the town of Nottingham, who polled in the election of two Burgesses to represent the said town in the Council Chamber,” the following fourteen pot and mug-makers and one pipe-maker occur:—
- John Coppock, pot maker, Narrow Marsh.
- Isaac Dance, pot maker, Coalpit Lane.
- John Clayton, pipe maker, Water Lane.
- Thomas Hough, pot maker, New Buildings.
- John Handley, mug maker, Coalpit Lane.
- Isaac Selby, pot maker, York Road.
- Thomas Wyer, pot maker, Boot Lane.
- Richard Reeves, pot maker, New Buildings.
- William Barnes, pot maker, Barker Gate.
- Moses Coleclough, pot maker, Beckbarn Yard.
- Leonard Twells, pot maker, Beck Lane.
- Richard Wyer, pot-maker, Boot Lane.
- Thomas Glover, pot maker, Warsergate.
- William Lockett, pot maker, St. Ann’s Street.
- Thomas Ellnor, pot maker, St. James’s Lane.
In 1802, in a List of the Burgesses in the Free Library[102] the following four names occur;—
- Moses Colclough, potter, Beck Court.
- John Key, pot maker, Coalpit Lane.
- John Reynolds, potter, Barker Gate.
- Samuel Woodhouse, pot maker, Sandy Lane.
In the list of those who voted at the contested election of 1803, only one pot-maker appears. In the same list the “Old Pottery” is mentioned as a place of residence of several persons, thus showing that the manufacture had then ceased at that place.
In 1815, Blackner in his history of Nottingham says, “there were likewise two potteries within the last thirty years,” “but the clay was principally brought from a considerable distance, which added so much to the cost of the pots as to prevent the proprietors maintaining a competition with the Staffordshire dealers.”
The names of “Mug-House Yard” and “Mug-House Lane” in Beck Street, take their origin from the old pot works of Mr. Morley, and show, incontestably, that those works, where “mugs” were the staple production, were known as the “Mug-house.”
The greater part of the clay was brought from out of Derbyshire, but some is said also to have been procured from Hucknall Torkard.