The curious example of Belfast pottery engraved on Fig. [723] is highly interesting as bearing the name of Belfast and the date 1724. It is a “choppine,” or lady’s high-heeled shoe, and is in Delft ware. It is six inches in length and the heel is two inches in height, and is decorated in blue and white, the flowers and foliage being blue on a white and white on a blue ground. On the sole are the initials M H R, M being the surname and H and R the Christian names of husband and wife, with the name and date in writing “Belfast, 1724,” as shown on the engraving. These are painted under the glaze in blue. For the notice of this interesting example, in the possession of a lady in Belfast, to whose grandmother it formerly belonged, I am indebted to Mr. Benn, the historian of that town.
Fig. 723.
Coates’ Pottery.—On an old map of Belfast, published in 1791, a building marked as “Coates’ Pottery” occurs. This, it is recorded by Mr. Pinkerton, was “set up by Mr. Victor Coates, at Lagan village, long before he established the well-known foundry at the same place. Red ware and a coarse kind of delft were made.”
China Works.—On the same map of Belfast, engraved in 1791, just referred to, occurs a building marked “China Manufactory,” close by “Coates’ Pottery,” “The partners in this Belfast china manufactory,” says Mr. Pinkerton, “were Thomas Gregg, Samuel Stephenson, and John Ashmore. That they carried on the manufacture of china there for some years is certain; for on January 29, 1793, the Earl of Hillsborough presented a petition from them to the Irish House of Commons. The original petition may be seen in the Journals of the House. In it the petitioners state that, recognising the great advantages arising from a manufacture of Queen’s Ware, and other fine kinds of ware such as are made in Staffordshire, they united themselves into a company for producing such wares in Ireland, and by their exertions had carried this manufacture to a greater perfection in the County of Down, near Belfast, than was ever known in this kingdom; that they had been at great expenses in erecting buildings, and importing machinery, and in bringing workmen from foreign places; that the difference in the prices of coal between Belfast and Staffordshire had greatly exceeded their expectations, and they now prayed for pecuniary aid. A committee, consisting of the Earl of Hillsborough, Mr. Johnson, and others, was immediately appointed by the House to report on the petition; and on the 2nd of February they reported that the petitioners had fully proved their allegations. The report was then ordered to be laid on the table; but it does not appear that anything was done further in the matter.
Florence Court, County Fermanagh.
There is a manufactory at this place where common red ware is made. The products are chiefly flower-pots and the coarser kinds of domestic vessels.