In 1600, it is stated by Shaw, there “were three manufactories for coarse brown pottery” at Penkhull, “one of which belonged to Mr. Thomas Doody, whose descendants now reside at Tunstall.”
CHAPTER XI.
Swansea—Cambrian Pottery—Dillwyn’s Etruscan Ware—Swansea China—Glamorgan Pottery—Richard’s Pottery—Landore Pottery—Llanelly—South Wales Pottery—Ynisymudw—Terra Cotta Works—Nantgarw—Billingsley—Nantgarw China—Brown and Stoneware Potteries—Cardigan—Cardigan Potteries—Hereford—Lugwardine Tile Works—Torquay—Terra Cotta Works—Alderholt—Smethwick—Reading—Coley Avenue Works—Wakefield Moor—Houghton’s Table of Clays—Ditchling Pottery, &c.—Amblecote—Leicester—Spinney Hill Works—Wednesbury—Winchester—Aylsford—Exeter—Lincoln.
Swansea.
Cambrian Pottery.—A small manufactory of earthenware appears to have existed at Swansea in the middle of last century, at which time the works had come into the hands of, and belonged to, a Mr. Coles, who afterwards took into partnership a Mr. George Haynes. The buildings were originally copper-works, and were converted into a pottery. In February, 1783, the works were offered for sale, as will be seen by the following highly interesting advertisement, which I now, for the first time, reprint. It shows the importance and extent of the works at that time.
“POTTERY AND MILLS.
“To be SOLD, A very capital SET of WORKS, well calculated for the POTTERY, GLASS, or any other Business, wherein well constructed Cones are necessary.
“These Works have been built within these few Years, and have been employed in a very extensive Pottery and Earthenware Manufacture. They are situated at Swansea, in Glamorganshire (the most flourishing Port in that Part of this Island), and have every Convenience for carrying on the present or any other similar Business. Coals of a most excellent Quality are brought into the Works for less than 5s. per Ton; Teignmouth Clay for 12s. per Ton; and Flints for 20s. per Ton; and may be landed at the Door of the Works, from Vessels of 300 Tons.
“The Country being full of excellent Coals, and there being several considerable Manufactures of Copper, Lead, Tin, &c. on the River, the Port of Swansea is resorted to by great Numbers of Ships from the West of England, Ireland, Holland, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway, by which Means advantageous Connexions are already formed and may be easily extended. The Country is very populous, Provisions in great plenty, and Labour very cheap.
“There are two excellent Water Mills included in the Premises, for grinding the Flints, one of which is more than sufficient for the Works; the other may be very advantageously altered to a Grist-Mill, not being above a Quarter of a Mile from Swansea; and at present the Inhabitants of that populous Town are under the Necessity of sending their Corn above three Miles to be ground.