Older even than the Haybrook Mug House are the Pot Works of Jackfield,
which, according to the parish register of Stoke-upon-Trent, quoted by
Mr. Jewitt and Mr. Chaffers, supplied a race of potters to that great
centre of early pot-making in the year 1560. Excavations made too, soma
years ago, brought to light on a spot near which the present works of
Craven, Dunnill & Co., now stand, an oven, or kiln, with unbaked ware,
which appeared to have been buried by a land-slip; and in an old pit,
which it was said had not been opened for two centuries, a brown mug was
discovered, which had upon it the date 1634. If Jackfield supplied early
potters for Stoke, Stoke sent pot masters to Jackfield. One of these was
Mr. Richard Thursfield, an ancestor of Greville T. Thursfield M.D., who
took these works and carried them on in 1713. He was succeeded by his
son John, of whom we have spoken as afterwards living at Benthall and
carrying on works there. The late Richard Thursfield, Esq., had in his
possession some good examples of Jackfield ware. Among them was a
handsome jug, gilt, having on it, we believe, the name of one of the
family.
In 1772, or soon after, Mr. Simpson carried on the works; and he appears
to have further improved the manufacture, for in addition to the “black
decanters,” as his mugs were called, he made various articles of superior
quality, which prior to the breaking out of the war with America found a
ready sale there. The old mill turned by the waters of the Severn, where
he ground his materials, has just been taken down.
Mr. Blakeway afterwards carried on the works, and was joined by Mr. John
Rose, upon leaving Caughley, and, after carrying them on a short time by
himself, he removed them, as he did the Caughley Works, to Coalport, on
the opposite bank of the river.
The site of the old pottery was on the ground which is now occupied by
the Jackfield Encaustic Tile Works, the clays of which are specially
adapted for geometrical and encaustic tiles; and such tiles have been
made here for a number of years; but since the old works came into the
possession of the present firm of Messrs. Craven Dunnill and Co., great
changes have taken place. The firm took a lease of about four acres of
ground, and adjoining the old works built a large and commodious
manufactory, which has been in operation for nearly two years. They have
since taken down all the buildings of the old works, and have erected on
their site and joining up to the new works, large warehouses, show room,
offices, and entrance lodge. The plan of the works is very complete, so
as in every way to economise in the process of manufacture, and they are
now among the most complete works of the kind.
[Picture: Craven Dunhill & Co. Works]
As shewn in the accompanying engraving, the buildings consist of four
blocks, one detached and the others connected, each block accommodating a
separate branch of the manufacture.
In the detached block the raw materials are reduced to a state ready for
the workman.
The second block contains the damping places, where the clays are kept in
a certain degree of moisture; pressers’ shops for the various colours of
geometrical tiles, and the encaustic tile makers’ shops, with their
stoves.
The next block provides for the drying and firing of the goods and
decorating shops.
On the first floor are workshops employed for painting, printing and
enamelling, or other decorative purposes.
The fourth block provides for the sorting and stocking of goods and for
packing them for despatch; also the offices and showroom.
Near to the detached block first described a small gas-works has been
erected, which supplies the whole of the buildings.