Tyne Main Pottery, on the opposite side of the river to St. Peter’s, was built by Messrs. R. Davies and Co., in the year 1833, and carried on by them, manufacturing white, printed, and lustre ware, chiefly for the Norwegian market. It was closed in 1851. Mr. R. C. Wilson, the managing partner, then commenced manufacturing at Seaham Harbour.
There was also a pottery at Heworth Shore, carried on by Patterson, Fordy, and Co. It was closed about 1835.
There was also a pottery at Jarrow for a few years, which manufactured brown ware only.
North Shields.
The “Low Light Pottery” was established in 1814, by Mr. Nicholas Bird, and afterwards passed from him, in or about 1829, to Messrs. Cornfoot, Colville, and Co. The firm was afterwards changed to Cornfoot, Patton, and Co., and on the withdrawal of Mr. Cornfoot, and the addition of Mr. John Carr, the style was changed to that of “Carr and Patten.” Next the firm was “John Carr and Co.,” and when the concern became the property of the first of these partners, the late Mr. John Carr, he and his sons carried it on under the style of “John Carr and Sons.” It is still continued by the same family under that style. Originally brown and black wares of the usual common kinds were made, in addition to the ordinary earthenware, but in 1856 these were discontinued, and the ordinary white earthenware in cream coloured, printed, painted, and lustred varieties substituted; these are the only productions of the firm. These goods are exported principally to the Mediterranean ports and to Alexandria, for transport to Cairo, and by the Red Sea to Bombay, &c. It is for these markets that the goods are mainly manufactured. In brown ware, common mugs, butter-jars, pancheons, milk-pans, &c., were produced; and in black ware, Egyptian black and smeared tea-pots, cream ewers, and other articles were produced. The mark, which, however, has been but seldom used, is a stag’s head.
South Shields.
The Tyne or Shields Pottery was established about 1830, by a Mr. Robertson, from whom, about 1845, it passed into the hands of Mr. John Armstrong; by whom the works were considerably enlarged. In 1871 the concern was purchased by Messrs. Isaac Fell and George Shields Young, by whom it is still carried on under the style of “Isaac Fell and Co.” The goods manufactured are “Sunderland” and “brown” wares, of which large quantities are shipped for the Continent, as well as supplied to the London, Scottish, and other home markets. The goods are, as usual, made from the common brick clay, and after drying are lined inside with white slip; and they are glazed with lead glaze. The “Tyne Pottery” is, with the exception of the works of Messrs. Harwood, at Stockton-on-Tees, the largest in the district for this kind of pottery.
The Potteries of the Wear are:—