Fig. 758.—From Aberdeenshire.
As of the primitive so of the mediæval pottery of Scotland; it differs but little from that of England, and indeed, except in a few instances, cannot be distinguished from it. Pitchers of the usual form, perforated jugs, bowls, dishes and platters—all were pretty nearly identical with those of English make, and but few seats of manufacture existed. The wares were of the commonest and coarsest kind. As in Ireland wood was more generally used than anything else for such utensils.
Of mediæval pottery Figs. [756 to 759] are characteristic examples. The first of these is a pitcher found in 1792, filled with coins of Alexander II. of Scotland and Edward I. and Edward II. of England, near Penicuick House, where it is preserved. It measures three and three-quarter inches in height, and is perforated at tolerably uniform distances. It is of coarse unglazed earthenware. Fig. [759] is a mediæval pitcher found near North Berwick Abbey, in East Lothian; it bears a marked resemblance to some engraved in Vol. I.
Fig. 759.
That china was attempted to be made in Scotland in the middle of last century is evident from the following paragraph from the London Chronicle of 1755: “Yesterday four persons, well-skilled in the making of British china, were engaged for Scotland, where a new porcelain manufacture is going to be established, in the manner of that now carried on at Chelsea, Stratford, and Bow.” But nothing is known as to the locality of the proposed works.
Glasgow.
The first pottery established in Glasgow was, it would appear, founded in 1749 as a delft-ware works. It was situated near the Broomielaw, in a lane which was called the “Delft-field Lane.” “Delft-field Lane” is a very suggestive name, and of course took its origin from the pot-works. The name was, I am informed by Mr. Cochran, “changed to ‘James Watt Street’ in later years. The celebrated inventor of the steam-engine lived in this lane, and it was in one of the rooms of the pottery that he was in the habit of working at his invention, and it is said, perfected it. The ware manufactured at this pottery was delft ware, and was a close imitation of the old grey Dutch ware of that name; but about the year 1770 the proprietors began to make ‘Queen’s ware,’ or white ware. They also began to make both plain and ornamented china, of such excellent quality that they received the compliment of being appointed potters to the Prince of Wales. How long this pottery lasted I have not been able to ascertain, but it was working in full perfection in the beginning of the present century. The next pottery which was built in Glasgow was about the year 1801, when the “Caledonian Pottery,” on the banks of the Monkland Canal, was erected. This is the oldest pottery now working in Glasgow, for although Verreville was built more than twenty years before it, yet earthenware was not made there till the year 1820.”