Sutton.
At Sutton, near Warrington, where some potteries for the manufacture of the commoner descriptions of wares are still worked, Dr. Kendrick is of opinion pottery was made in mediæval times. His opinion is founded on the fact of a fragment of a vessel in form of a mounted knight (of somewhat the same character as those already described in last volume) being said to be made of Sutton fire-clay. The fragment was found in Winwick Churchyard, and is preserved in Warrington Museum; fragments of similar ware are frequently dug up in the district.
Runcorn.
Old Quay Pottery.—These works were carried on in 1869 by Mr. John Cliff who, in that year, removed from the Imperial Pottery, Lambeth, to this place, where he manufactures largely chemical stoneware and other goods. Mr. Cliff has taken out patents for an improved kiln, and for wheels for throwers, and lathes for turners, which have the reputation of being the most effective, simple, and valuable of any in existence.
Prescot.
The Moss Pottery.—Mr. Thomas Spencer, who last century established pot works at the bottom of Richmond Row, Liverpool (see Page 33) for the production of Delft ware, removed them to Prescot, where he founded the “Moss Pottery,” and made coarse brown ware from the native clays of the district. At his death the works passed into the hands of his son, who, in turn, was succeeded by his son, the present owner of the place, Mr. Thomas Spencer. White stone ware was afterwards manufactured to a large extent, but of late years the operations have been principally confined to sanitary ware, one of the most notable features of which are the socket drain pipes, for which Mr. Spencer holds a patent, dated April 10th, 1848. Sugar moulds for sugar refiners were at one time a staple production of the Moss Pottery, but these have been superseded by the iron moulds now in general use. Mr. Spencer, too, has taken out a patent (in 1861) “for improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of articles of earthenware, and of other plastic materials” by which saggars for burning earthenware in glass cisterns, crucibles, etc., are made by direct action of steam pressure. The principal goods produced are vitrified and glazed earthenware; sanitary and chemical wares; garden, sea-kale and other pots; black ware articles; filters; stoneware bottles, jars, pans, barrels, foot warmers, and other useful domestic articles.
St. Helen’s.
Messrs. Case, Mort & Co., of the Herculaneum Works at Liverpool, had, at one time, a manufactory at St. Helen’s, where goods of common quality were produced. Messrs. Doulton, of the Lambeth Pottery, have also established a branch manufactory here for drain pipes, sanitary ware, &c.
Seacombe.
Mr. Goodwin, a potter of Lane End, in Staffordshire, in 1851, established a pottery at Seacombe, on the opposite shore of the Mersey from Liverpool. He brought his workmen from Staffordshire, and fired his first oven in June, 1852. Of this pottery, now closed, Mr. Mayer thus wrote in 1855: “The ware manufactured here at present consists principally of earthenware and stoneware, chiefly of blue and colour printed ware, and, lately, parian has been made of a good quality. Here has been introduced one of the throwing tables for making hollow ware, cups, bowls, &c., by machinery, with the aid of which four boys who are quite unacquainted with the art can, in a day or two’s practice, produce as much work as by the old process of hand throwing could formerly be made by five men in the same space of time. The success of the undertaking may be considered fairly established, and a very large and increasing trade is now carried on with the east and west coast of South America, Turkey, California, and India. So admirably arranged are the buildings on this work that all the different parts work together. The ware after being fired is carried direct from the ovens into the bisque warehouse which adjoins them, and on the other side the coal is conveyed along a railway and deposited close to the mouths of the kilns. The whole may be looked upon as a model for all future buildings and arrangements for pot works. Indeed, so perfect is it that it has been visited by several manufacturers from France and Germany, who, by permission of Mr. Goodwin, have taken plans of it as a guide for new works to be erected in those countries.”