The Herculaneum Pottery,—the largest earthenware manufactory ever established in Liverpool,—was founded in the year 1796, on the site of some old copper works on the south shore of the river Mersey at Toxteth Park. The pottery had originally been established about the year 1793–4, by Richard Abbey, who took into partnership a Scotchman named Graham. Richard Abbey was born at Aintree, and was apprenticed to John Sadler, in Harrington Street, as an engraver, where he produced many very effective groups for mugs, jugs, tiles, &c. Of these, one of his best productions was the well-known group of the “Farmer’s Arms.” After leaving Sadler’s employment, Abbey removed to Glasgow, where he was an engraver at the pot-works, and afterwards served in a similar capacity in France, before he began business in Liverpool. Messrs. Abbey and Graham were successful in their factory at Toxteth Park, but Abbey growing tired of the business, they sold it to Messrs. Worthington, Humble, and Holland, and he retired to his native village, where he died in 1801, “at the age of eighty-one, after breaking a blood-vessel whilst singing in Melling Church, where, being a good musician, he used to lead the choir on a Sunday. He was buried at Walton.”
In the Mayer museum is a teapot of cream-coloured ware, with black printing, of Richard Abbey’s making. On one side is “The Farmer’s Arms,” with supporters quarterly: viz., 1st, a sheaf of corn; 2nd, two scythes in saltier, across them in fess two flails, knitted together by a sickle; 3rd, a hay rake and hay fork in saltier, with a three-pronged fork, prongs upwards, in pale; 4th, a riddle and a bushel measure; crest, a plough; supporters, a dairymaid with a churn, and a mower with a scythe; motto, “In God is our trust.” On the other side is the appropriate verse;—
May the mighty and great
Roll in splendour and state;
I envy them not, I declare it;
I eat my own Lamb,
My Chicken and Ham,
I shear my own sheep, and I wear it.
I have Lawns, I have Bowers,
I have Fruits, I have Flowers,