Christian.—Philip Christian was another of the famous Liverpool potters, and had his works also on Shaw’s Brow, but higher up than those of Pennington. They were on the site of what is now known as Islington Terrace. His house was at the corner of Christian Street, which was called after his name. At these works he produced octagonal and other shaped plates of tortoiseshell ware, as well as bowls and other pieces of the same material. He also made the ordinary earthenware of the time. Here, later on, he manufactured china[4] to a considerable extent, and, after the death of Richard Chaffers, is said to have become the leading potter in the place. Mr. Christian is said to have produced in china ware some remarkably good dinner, tea, and coffee services, as well as a number of vases and other ornaments. It is, however, impossible at present to authenticate his productions, so similar are they to those of other makers of the same time and place.
Patrick’s Hill Pot-house.—In 1760 the firm of Thomas Deare & Co. took the old Delft ware pottery at Patrick’s Hill, known as the “Patrick’s Hill Pot-house,” where they manufactured “all sorts of the best blue and white earthenware.”
The Flint Pot Works.—About the same time a Mr. Okell carried on “The Flint Pot Works,” which were situated at the upper end of Park Lane, near the Pitch House. Here he made blue and white earthenware, and afterwards the more fashionable cream-coloured ware. Mr. Okell died in 1773–74, and the works were then taken by Messrs. Rigg and Peacock, who immediately advertised their intention of “making all kinds of cream-coloured earthenware, &c.” Mr. Rigg was, I have reason to believe, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, and a descendant of the celebrated Charles Rigg, the pipe-maker of that town. In the same year there was also a pot-house, called the “Mould Works,” carried on by Messrs. Woods & Co., near the infirmary, but where nothing of a finer description than jars, sugar-moulds (for sugar refiners), crucibles, chimney-pots, melting-pots, black mugs, and the like, were made.
In 1761 Liverpool was the scene of a strongly contested election between three rival candidates, viz., Sir William Meredith, Bart., Sir Ellis Cuncliffe, Bart., and Charles Pole, Esq., and the election was carried by the potters, one hundred and two of whom gave plumpers for Sir William. This is proved by the poll and squib book, which was published by John Sadler, and I allude to the circumstance for the purpose of introducing an engraving of one of the drinking-mugs made specially for the occasion by the “jolly potters” of Liverpool. This mug is of common white earthen ware, and has a rude border, with the words,
Ser William
a
Plumper,
scratched in, in blue, in the soft clay before firing.
Fig. 33.