Ibstock.
The history of these works is that of Coalville; which [see.]
Polesworth.
Terra Cotta Works.—One of the manufactures of terra cotta carried on by the “Midland Brick and Terra Cotta Company” is situated at Polesworth. It was established in 1875, and the directorship placed in the hands of Mr. J. Joiner, for many years principal manager at the Stamford Terra Cotta Works. The productions consist of fountains; garden, conservatory, and other vases of various designs; architectural details and enrichments; chimney tops, chimney pieces, capitals and columns, crestings and finials, and other articles, including an admirable feature, that of tomb-stones, monuments, memorial tablets, urns, &c. Blue and brown bricks, both moulded and plain; coping, arch, and stable bricks; roofing tiles, garden edgings, drain pipes, and other useful goods are also extensively made. The terra cotta is both red and buff, and is of fine hard and durable quality, and, with a clean, good surface, unites a pleasant shade of colour.
Market Bosworth.
Terra Cotta Works, belonging to the “Midland” Company, before spoken of, have been established for the production of bricks, tiles, fire-clay, and the more ordinary terra cotta goods.
Tamworth.
The Terra Cotta Works at Tamworth were established in 1847, by the present owners, Messrs. Gibbs and Canning, and are now very extensive and important, and produce a large variety of goods of the highest class and character. The principal productions are terra-cotta for architectural, horticultural, and other useful and ornamental purposes; Della Robbia ware; sanitary and other goods; tiles, and bricks, &c. In terra cotta, for architectural purposes, trusses and cornices, bosses and pateræ, brackets and corbels, capitals and bases, balustrades and parapets, keystones and quoins, strings and mouldings, window and door heads, terminals and finials, friezes, diaper work, ashlar, and every other detail, are produced, and of a quality for sharpness, hardness, and durability scarcely to be surpassed. Among the buildings where this Tamworth terra cotta has been well introduced are the Roman Catholic church of the Holy Name at Manchester; the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington; the Royal Horticultural Gardens; the Colston Hall, Bristol; the Natural History Museum, South Kensington; and the corridor of the New Town Hall, Manchester, &c. For ornamental purposes this firm produces fountains, vases, tazzas, pedestals, garden-seats, brackets, suspenders, figures and groups, garden-edging, and every variety of articles for the lawn, the garden, or the conservatory. Many of these are of excellent design, and the material being durable they are well suited for out-door purposes. The “Della Robbia ware”—a fine terra cotta beautifully and effectively enamelled in brilliant and flat colours on the surface—is produced in endless variety in plaques, &c., for ceilings and walls, where it takes the place of plaster or other surface-covering. Its great beauty is, however, especially apparent in the garden and flower-vases, jardinières, mignonette-boxes, tree-pots, and an endless variety of other useful articles which the firm produce. The designs are chaste and elegant, especially those in which the convolvulus is introduced, and the colouring rich and effective in the extreme. They are among the best productions of this class of goods. Another excellent production of the firm is a grey terra-cotta, which has a pleasing effect for architectural enrichments.
Wilnecote.
The Wilnecote Works, near Tamworth, which rank among the more important in the kingdom, were established in 1860, when Mr. George Skey purchased the coal mines at this place, with the intention of working them. On sinking shafts for the purpose he fortunately discovered several important and valuable beds of fire-clay, and other clays well adapted for pottery purposes, and he wisely determined to at once erect suitable kilns and buildings for their full development. At great cost and under considerable disadvantages suitable workrooms were erected and fitted up with suitable machinery, steam presses, lathes, &c. Competent workmen were engaged, and the manufactory was opened in 1862. The goods produced were so well received and their quality so good, both as regard material and workmanship, as well as design, that the works had very shortly to be considerably enlarged and fresh workrooms, kilns, &c., erected. This was done, and at the present time the entire produce of the coal and clay pits (about 300 tons of coal and 300 tons of clay per week) is used up at the works, which give employment to several hundred persons. In 1864 Mr. Skey having found the concern grown to more than his own personal care could, single handed, control, formed it into a limited liability company, with a capital of £60,000, under the style of the “Wilnecote Company, Limited,” afterwards altered to the “George Skey and Company, Limited,” Mr. Skey being the managing director, and Mr. Thos. Creswell, secretary.