The Fulham Works--Dwight’s Inventions and Patents--First
China made in England--Dwight’s Books of Recipes,
&c.--Present Productions--Lambeth--Exchequer Trial--High
Street--Coade’s Works--London Pottery--Lambeth
Pottery--Fore Street--Waters’ Patent--Imperial
Pottery--Crispe’s China--Blackfriars Road--Bas-reliefs
for Wedgwood Institute--Vauxhall--Aldgate--Mill
Wall--Mortlake--Southwark; Gravel
Lane--Isleworth--Stepney--Greenwich--Deptford--Merton--
Hounslow--Wandsworth--Ewell--Cheam--Chiselhurst.
FULHAM.
In 1671, as I have already shown,[39] John Dwight took out a patent
for “the mistery of transparent earthenware, comonly knowne by the
names of Porcelaine or China, and Persian Ware,” &c. The patent runs as
follows:--
“CHARLES THE SECOND, &c., to all to whome theise presents shall
come, greeting.
“WHEREAS wee have bene informed by the humble peticon of
JOHN DWIGHT, Gentl, that he had discovered “THE MISTERY OF
TRANSPARENT EARTHENWARE, COMONLY KNOWNE BY THE NAMES OF
PORCELAINE OR CHINA, AND PERSIAN WARE, AS ALSOE THE MISTERIE
OF THE STONE WARE VULGARLY CALLED COLOGNE WARE; AND THAT HE
DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE A MANUFACTURE OF THE SAID WARES INTO OUR
KINGDOME OF ENGLAND, WHERE THEY HAVE NOT HITHERTO BENE WROUGHT
OR MADE.” And thereupon the said John Dwight hath humbly
besought vs to grant him the sole benefitt of the manufacture of
the said wares for fourteene yeares, according to the statute in
that behalfe made and provided.
“KNOW YEE, that wee, being willing to cherish and encourage all
laudable endeavours and designes of such our subiects as shall
find out vsefull and profitable arts, misteries, and invencons,
by granting and appropriating vnto them for some terme of yeares
the fruite and benefitt of their industry, whereby their labours
and expences in the attainm^t thereof may be recompensed and
rewarded vnto them, of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge,
and meere mocon, have given and granted, and by theise presents,
for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and grant vnto the
said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes,
speciall lycense and full and free libertie, priviledge, power,
and authoritie, that he, the said John Dwight, his executors,
administrators, and assignes, by him and themselves, or by his
or their deputies, servants, workemen, or assignes, and none
other, shall and may, from time to time, and att all and everie
time and times hereafter, dureing the tearme of fourteene yeares
next ensueing the date of these presents, att his and their owne
proper costs and charges, vse, exercise, practise, and enioy the
said misterie and Invencon of makeing transparent earthen ware,
comonly knowne by the names of porcelaine or China, and Persian
ware; and also the mistery and Invencon or makeing the stone
ware vulgarly called Collogne ware, within any convenient place
or places within our Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, or
Towne of Berwick-vpon-Tweed, in such manner as to him or them
in their discrecons shall seeme meete; and shall and may have
and enioy the sole benefitt and advantage from, by, or vnder the
said misteries and invencons or manufactures of the said wares,
or either of them by him the said John Dwight found out and
discovered, as aforesaid, ariseing or groweing from time to time
dureing the terme hereby granted, to have, hold, and enioy the
said lycenses, priviledges, powers, and authorities, benefitt,
advantages, & other the premisses in and by these presents
granted or menconed to be granted, and everie of them, vnto the
said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes,
from and dureing the tearme of fourteene yeares from henceforth
next ensueing, and fully to be compleate and ended, yeilding and
paying therefore yearely and every yeare dureing the said tearme
into the receipt of our Exchequer att Westminster, to the vse
of vs, our heires and successors, the yearely rent or sume of
twentie shillings of lawfull money of England, att the two most
vsuall feasts or tearmes in the yeare, (that is to say) att the
Feast of Saint Michaell the Archangell, and the Annunciation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by even and equall porcons. And to
the end the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, and everie of them, may the better enioy the
full and whole benefitt and sole vse and exercise of the said
misteries, invencons, and manufacture of the said wares, as well
within liberties as without, wee doe by theise presents, for vs,
our heires and successors, require and streightly charge and
comand all and everie person & persons, bodies pollitique and
corporate, of whatsoever qualitie, degree, name, or condicon
they be, that neither they nor any of them, dureing the tearme
hereby granted, either directly or indirectly, doe or shall
vse or putt in practise the said misteries and invencons or
manufacture of the said wares, or either of them, soe by the
said John Dwight found out or discovered as aforesaid; nor doe
or shall counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same; nor doe
or shall make any addicon therevnto, or substraccon from the
same, whereby to pretend themselves the inventors or devisors
thereof, without the lycense, consent, and agreement of the
said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes,
in writeing under his or their hands and seals first had and
obteyned in that behalfe, vpon such paines and penalties as can
or may be inflicted on such offendors for the contempt of this
our comand in that behalfe, and further to be answearable to the
said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes,
according to law and justice, for his and their damages thereby
susteined. And further, we doe by theise presents, for vs,
our heires and successors, give and grant vnto the said John
Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, full
power and authoritie that he, they, and everie of them, his,
theire, & everie of theire deputies, servants, and agents, or
any of them, haveing first obteyned a warrant in this behalfe
from the Lord Chiefe Justice of the Court of King’s Bench for
the time being, may, with the assistance of a constable or any
other lawfull officer, as well within liberties as without,
vpon request, att convenient times in the day, dureing the time
aforesaid, and in lawfull manner, to enter and make search in
any houses or other places where there shall be iust causes of
suspition, for discovering and finding out of all such persons
as shall within the tearme of fourteene yeares aforesaid
imitate or cause to bee imitated or vse or putt in practise
the said misteries and invencons, or manufacture of the said
wares, or either of them, soe by the said John Dwight found out
and discovered as aforesaid, that soe such offendors may be
proceeded against and punished according to their demeritts.
And further, wee doe by theise presents, for vs, our heires
and successors, will, authorise, and require all and singuler
justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffes, bayliffes, constables,
head-boroughs, and all other officers and ministers whatsoever,
of vs, our heires and successors, for the time being, that they
and every of them respectively be from time to time dureing
the said tearme hereby granted in their respective places,
favouring, ayding, helping, and assisting vnto the said John
Dwight, his executors, adminr^s, and assignes, and to be his
and their deputie and deputies, servants, and agents, in and
by all things in and aboute the accomplishment of our will and
pleasure herein declared, and in the exercise and execucon of
the powers and priviledges herein and hereby granted or menconed
to be granted as aforesaid; and, moreover, wee will and comand
by theise presents, for us, our heires and successors, that
our said officers, or any of them, doe not molest, trouble, or
interrupt the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators,
or assignes, or his or their deputie or deputies, servants, or
workemen, or any of them, in or about the vse or exercise of
the said misteries and invencons or manufacture of the said
wares, or either of them, or any matter or thing concerning the
same, or either of them: Provided alwaies, that if att any time
dureing the said tearme of fourteene yeares it shall be made
appeare vnto vs, our heires or successors, or any six or more
of our or their Privy Councell, that this our grant is contrary
to law or preiudiciall or inconvenient or not of public vse
or benefitt, then, vpon significacon & declaracon to be made
by vs, our heires or successors, vnder our or their signett
or privie seale, or by the Lords and others of our Privy
Councell, or any six of them for the time being, in writeing
vnder their hands, of such preiudice or inconvenience, these
our Letters Patents, and all things therein conteyned, shall
forthwith cease, determine, and be vtterly void to all intents
and purposes, anything hereinbefore conteyned to the contrary
notwithstanding. And our will and pleasure is, that the said
John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall
enroll these presents, or cause the same to be enrolled, before
the Clerke of the Pipe within six moneths next after the date
hereof. And lastly, wee doe by theise presents, for vs, our
heires and successors, grant vnto the said John Dwight, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, that these our Letters
Patents, and the inrollment thereof, shall bee in and by all
things good, valid, sufficient, and effectuall in the law,
according to the true intent and meaning of theise presents,
and shall be taken, adiudged, and construed most favourably and
beneficially for the best benefitt and advantage of the said
John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, as
well in all our Courts of Record as elsewhere, notwithstanding
the not specifying the various sorts of the said Collogne wares,
and the not full and certaine describing the manner and qualitie
of the said misteries and invencons, or any of them, or of the
materialls, way and manner of workeing the same, or of the true
and certaine vse and benefitt thereof, and notwithstanding
any other defects, incertainties, or imperfeccons in theise
presents conteyned, or any act, statute, ordinance, provision,
proclamacon, or restraint to the contrary thereof in anywise
notwithstanding.
“In witnes, &c. Witnes our selfe att Westminster, the Three and
twentieth day of Aprill P bre de privatoe sigillo.”
This was the commencement of the Fulham Pottery, whose history I am
about to attempt to trace, and which has continued uninterruptedly in
work for more than two centuries.
Dwight appears to have been a man of considerable learning and ability.
He graduated as M.A. at Christ Church, Oxford, and successively held
the appointments of secretary to more than one Bishop of Chester. He
seems to have long experimented upon clays and mineral products in
the search after the body of which the oriental china was made, and
at length to have brought those researches to a successful issue. Six
years after the date of the first of his patents, Dr. Plot, the eminent
antiquary and keeper of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, thus wrote of
his discoveries in his “History of Oxfordshire”:--
Ҥ 84. Amongst arts that concern _formation of earths_, I shall
not mention the making of pots at Marsh Balden and Nuneham
Courtney, nor of tobacco-pipes of the white earth of Shotover,
since those places are now deserted. Nor indeed was there,
as I ever heard of, anything extraordinary performed during
the working these _earths_, nor is there now of a very good
tobacco-pipe clay found in the parish of Horspath, since the
first printing of the third chapter of this history.... Let
it suffice for things of this nature, that the ingenious John
Dwight, formerly M.A. of Christ Church College, Oxon, hath
discovered the _mystery of the stone or Cologne wares_ (such as
d’Alva bottles, jugs, noggins), heretofore made only in Germany,
and by the Dutch brought over into England in great quantities;
and hath set up a manufacture of the same, which (by methods and
contrivances of his own, altogether unlike those used by the
Germans), in three or four years’ time, he hath brought it to
greater perfection than it has attained where it hath been used
for many ages, insomuch that the Company of Glass-sellers of
London, who are the dealers for that commodity, have contracted
with the inventor to buy only of his English manufacture, and
refuse the foreign.
Ҥ 85. He hath discovered also the _mystery of the Hessian
wares_, and vessels for reteining the penetrating salts and
spirits of the chymists, more serviceable than were ever made in
England, or imported from Germany itself.
Ҥ 86. And hath found ways to make an earth _white and
transparent as porcellane_, and not distinguishable frome it by
the eye, or by experiments that have been purposely made to try
wherein they disagree. To this earth he hath added the colours
that are usual in the coloured china ware, and divers others
not seen before. The skill that hath been wanting to set up a
manufacture of this _transparent earthenware_ in England, like
that of China, is the glazing of the white earth, which hath
much puzzled the projector, but now that difficulty also is in
great measure overcome.
Ҥ 87. He hath also caused to be modelled _statues or figures
of the said transparent earth_ (a thing not done elsewhere,
for China affords us only imperfect mouldings), which he hath
diversified with great variety of colours, making them of the
colour of iron, copper, brass, and party-colour’d as some
Achat-stones. The considerations that induced him to this
attempt were the duration of this hard-burnt earth, much above
brass or marble, against all air and weather, and the softness
of the matter to be modelled, which makes it capable of more
curious work than stones that are wrought with chisels, or
metals that are cast. In short, he has so advanced the _Art
Plastic_ that ’tis dubious whether any man since Prometheus have
excelled him, not excepting the famous Damophilus and Gorgasus
of Pliny (Nat. Hist., lib. xxxv. c. 12).
Ҥ 88. And these arts he employs about meterials of English
growth, and not much applyed to other uses; for instance,
he makes the stone bottles of a clay in appearance like to
tobacco-pipe clay, which will not make tobacco-pipes, although
the tobacco-pipe clay will make bottles; so that that which hath
lain buried and useless to the owners may become beneficial to
them by reason of this manufacture, and many working hands get
good livelihoods, not to speak of the very considerable sums of
English coyn annually kept at home by it.”
Dwight having patented his discovery of “the mistery of transparent
earthenware, commonly known by the names of Porcelaine or China, or
Persia ware,” in April, 1671, it is perfectly clear that the discovery
must have been made before that time, and that it must have been the
result of a long series of patient trials and experiments. Thus, I
think, we may safely say that the actual discovery was made some time
prior to 1671. In 1684 the patent expired, and a new one granted, in
June, for another term of fourteen years--this time the wares and
articles being more specifically named. It is as follows:--
“CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, &c., to all to whom
these presents shall come, greeting.
“WHEREAS JOHN DWIGHT, Gentl, hath represented vnto vs that by
his owne industry and at his owne proper costs and charges, hee
hath invented and sett vp at Fulham, in our County of Middx,
‘SEVERALL NEW MANUFACTURES OF EARTHENWARES, CALLED BY THE NAMES
OF WHITE GORGES, MARBLED PORCELLANE VESSELLS, STATUES, AND
FIGURES, AND FINE STONE GORGES AND VESSELLS, NEVER BEFORE MADE
IN ENGLAND OR ELSEWHERE; AND ALSOE DISCOVERED THE MISTERY OF
TRANSPARENT PORCELLANE, AND OPACOUS, REDD, AND DARKE-COLOURED
PORCELLANE OR CHINA AND PERSIAN WARES, AND THE MISTERY OF
THE COLOGNE OR STONE WARES,’ and is endeavouring to settle
manufactures of all the said wares within this our kingdome of
England; and hee having humbly besought vs, to grant vnto him
our Letters Patents for the sole vse and exercise of the same
for the terme of fowrteene years, according to the Statute in
that case provided, wee are gratiously pleased to condescend to
that his request.
“KNOW YEE THEREFORE, that wee being willing that the said John
Dwight may reap some reasonable recompence and compensacon for
his great charge and paines in and about the premisses, and to
incourage the inventers of such arts as may be of publick vse
and benefitt, of our especiall grace, certeine knowledge, and
meere mocon, have given and granted, and by these presents,
for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and grant, vnto the
said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes,
speciall licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that hee, the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, and every of them, by themselves, or their deputy
or deputys, servants or agents, or such others as the said
John Dwight, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall
at any time agree with, and noe others, from time to time and
at all times dureing the terme of yeares hereafter in these
presents expressed, shall and lawfully may vse, exercise, and
enioy the said Invencons of new manufactures within any part
or parts, place or places whatsoever, of, in, or belonging to
our kingdome of England, dominion of Wales, and all and every
or any of our kingdomes and dominions whatsoever, in such
manner, and according to such reasonable and lawfull rates and
limitacons, as to him, the said John Dwight, his executors,
administrators, and assignes, or any of them, shall in their
discrecons seeme meet, and that hee, the said John Dwight, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, shall and may have
and enioy the sole benefitt, profitt, comodity, and advantage
from time to time coming, growing, and arising by reason of the
said Invencons of new manufactures, for and dureing the full
terme of yeares hereafter menconed; to have, hold, exercise,
and enioy the said licence, powers, privileges, and advantages
hereinbefore granted or menconed to be granted vnto the said
John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, for
and dureing and vnto the full end and terme of fourteene yeares
from the day of the date of these presents next and imediately
ensueing and fully to be compleate and ended according to
the Statute in this case made and provided; and to the end
that the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, and every of them, may enioy the full benefitt
and the sole vse and exercise of the said Invencons of new
manufactures according to our gratious intencons hereinbefore
declared, wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and
successors, require and strictly comand all and every person
and persons, bodys politique and corporate, and all other our
subiects whatsoever, of what estate, quality, or degree, name,
or condicon soever they be, within all and every our kingdomes
& dominions, that neither they nor any of them, at any time
dureinge the continuance of the said terme of fowrteene yeares
hereby granted, either directly or indirectly doe, vse, or put
in practise the said Invencons of new manufactures, or any of
them, or any part of the same soe atteined vnto by the said
John Dwight as aforesaid, nor shall in anywise counterfeite
or resemble the said Invencons of manufacture, or any of
them, nor shall make or cause to be made any addicon thereto
or substraccon from the same, whereby to pretend themselves
the inventers or devisers thereof, without the licence,
consent, or agreement of the said John Dwight, his executors,
administrators, or assignes, in writing vnder his, their, or
some of their hands and seales, first had and obteyned in that
behalfe, vpon such paines and penaltys as can or may be iustly
inflicted on such offenders for their contempt of this our
Royall comand; and further to be answerable to the said John
Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes, according
to law for his and their damages thereby to be susteined. And
wee doe, of our further especiall grace, certeine knowledge, and
meere mocon, for vs, our heires and successors, grant vnto the
said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and assignes,
by these presents, that hee, they, and every of them, and his,
their, and every of their deputys, agents, and servants, haveing
first obteined a lawfull warrant from the Lord Chiefe Justice of
our Court of King’s Bench at Westm for the time being, and with
the assistance of a constable or any other lawful officer, at
convenient times in the day dureing the terme hereby granted,
and in lawfull manner, may enter into and make search in any
place or places whatsoever within any of our kingdomes and
dominions where there shall be iust cause of suspicon for the
discovery and finding out of all and every person and persons
as shall imitate or cause to be imitated, or shall vse or put
in practise the said Invencons of new manufactures, or any
of them, or shall make or counterfeite any instruments or
materialls to the same belonging, that soe such offender or
offenders may be proceeded against and punished according to
law. And further, wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires
and successors, will, authorise, and comand all and singular
justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bayliffes, constables,
head-boroughs, and all other officers and ministers whatsoever
of vs, our heires and successors, for the time being, as well
within our kingdome of England and dominion of Wales, as within
all and every other our kingdomes and dominions, that they and
every of them respectively be from time to time dureing the
terme hereby granted, in their respective offices, favouring,
aiding, helping, and assisting vnto the said John Dwight, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, and to his and theire
deputy and deputys, servants and agents, in and by all things in
and about the accomplishment of our Royall will and pleasure
hereinbefore declared, and in the exercise and execucon of the
powers and privileges hereby granted as aforesaid. And moreover
wee doe by these presents, for vs, our heires and successors,
will and comand that our said respective officers and ministers
before menconed, or any of them, doe not, nor shall att any time
hereafter dureing the said terme hereby granted, in anywise,
molest, trouble, or hinder the said John Dwight, his executors,
administrators, or assignes, or any his or their deputys,
servants, or agents, in or about the due and lawfull vse or
exercise of the aforesaid Invencons, or any of them, or anything
relateing therevnto: Provided always, and these our Letters
Patents are and shalbe vpon this condicon, that if at any tyme
dureing the said terme hereby granted it shalbe made appeare
to vs, our heires or successors, or any six or more of our or
their Privy Councell, that this our present grant is contrary
to law or preiudiciall or inconvenient to our subiects in
generall, or that the said Invencons and every of them are not
new invencons as to the publick vse and exercise thereof within
this our kingdome, and not invented and found out by the said
John Dwight as aforesaid, then vpon significacon and declaracon
thereof to be made by us, our heires or successors, vnder our
or their signett or privy seale, or by the lords and others of
our or their Privy Councell, or any six or more of them vnder
their hands, these our Letters Patents shall forthwith cease,
determine, and be vtterly void to all intents and purposes,
any thing before herein conteined to the contrary in anywise
notwithstanding: Provided alsoe, that these our Letters Patents
or any thing therein conteined shall not extend or be construed
to extend to give privilege vnto the said John Dwight, his
executors, administrators, or assignes, or any of them, to vse
or imitate any invencon or worke whatsoever which hath been
heretofore found out or invented by any other of our subiects
whatsoever, and publicly vsed or exercised within our said
realme and dominions, or any of them, vnto whom we have already
granted our like Letters Patents of Privilege for the sole vse,
exercise, and benefitt thereof, it being our will and pleasure
that the said John Dwight, his executors, administrators, and
assignes, and all and singular other person and persons to whom
we have already granted our like Letters Patents or privileges,
as aforesaid, shall distinctly vse and practise their severall
invencons by them invented and found out according to the true
intent and meaning of the said Letters Patents and of these
presents. And lastly wee doe by these presents, for vs, our
heires and successors, grant vnto the said John Dwight, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, that these our Letters
Patents or the inrollment thereof shalbe in and by all things
firme, valid, sufficient, and effectuall in the law according
to the true intent and meaneing thereof, and shalbe taken,
construed, and adiudged in the most favourable and beneficiall
sense for the best advantage of the said John Dwight, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, aswell in all Courts of
Record as elsewhere, and by all and singular the officers and
ministers whatsoever of vs, our heires and successors in all
and singular our realmes and dominions whatsoever, and amongst
all and every the subiects of us, our heires and successors,
whatsoever and wheresoever, notwithstanding the not full and
certaine describing the nature or quality of the said Invencons,
or any of them, or of the materialls thereto conduceing or
belonging, or any other defects or incertaintys in these
presents contained, or any act, statute, ordinance, provision,
proclamacon, or restriccon, or other matter, cause, or thing
whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
In witnesse, &c. Witnesse Ourselfe at Westm, the Twelfth
day of June.
By Writt of Privy Seale.
In 1694[40] Houghton thus, in his “Letters on Husbandry and Trade,”
wrote[41] while speaking of the tobacco-pipe clays, “gotten at or nigh
Pool, a post-town in Dorsetshire, and there dug in square pieces, of
the bigness of about half a hundredweight each; from thence ’tis
brought to London, and sold in peaceable times at about eighteen
shillings a ton, but now in this time of war is worth about three and
twenty shillings,” And again he says: “This sort of clay, as I hinted
formerly, is used to clay sugar; and the best sort of mugs are made
with it, and the ingenious Mr. _Daught_ of _Fulham_ tells me that ’tis
the same earth _China-ware_ is made of, and ’tis made, not by lying
long in the earth, but in the fire; and if it were worth while, we
may make as good _China_ here as any is in the world. And so for this
time, farewel Clay.” Again, on “March 13, 1695,” he thus writes: “Of
_China-ware_ I see but little imported in the year 1694, I presume by
reason of the war and our bad luck at sea. There came only from Spain
certain, and from India certain twice. ’Tis a curious manufacture, and
deserves to be encourag’d here, which without doubt money would do;
and Mr. _Dowoit_ at _Fulham_ has done it, and can again in any thing
that is flat: but the difficulty is that if a hollow dish be made, it
must be burnt so much that the heat of the fire will make the sides
fall. He tells me that our clay will very well do it; the main skill
is in managing the fire. By my consent, the man that would bring it to
perfection should have for his encouragement one thousand pound from
the publick, though I help’d to pay a tax towards it.”
Although no specifications are preserved with Dwight’s patents,[42] I
am enabled, through the extreme kindness and courtesy of the present
owner of the works, C. I. C. Bailey, Esq., to give recipes for the
manufacture of porcelain, &c., in Dwight’s own words, and copied from
his own private pocket-books. These two extremely curious books were
recently discovered among some old account books and their discovery
throws considerable light on the history of the plastic art at this
period. One of these books, which is bound in vellum, contains on its
outside front cover the words:--
“All that is in this
book was enterd since
9 ber 15 1695;”
but the other contains many earlier entries, from 1691. Both the books
are in Dwight’s own handwriting. Among the number of curious recipes
are the following, which possess more than ordinary interest.
“_To make transparent Porcelane or China Cley._--Take fine white
thirty pounds. Best cley sifted twenty pounds. Mingle & tread.
This works strong and may be wrought thin vpon ye wheel.
“_To make another transparent porcelane or China Cley._--Take
fine white thirty pounds. Best Cley fifteen pounds. Mingle and
tread. This works weaker and thicker but burns very clear with
low fire.
“_To make red porcelane Cley._--Take Cley sifted twenty pounds.
Ffine dark Earth fifteen pounds. White ꝑ. Cyprus five pounds.
Mingle & tread.
“_To make a bright red Cley w^{th} Staffordshire red
Cley._--Take sifted Staffordshire Cley thirty pounds. ffine dark
twenty pounds. Mingle & tread.
“_The fine Stone Cley._--Take sifted cley sixty pounds ffine
white fourteen pounds. ffine white sand sifted ten pounds.
Mingle and tread. The best way of weighing and mingling this
Cley is, 1, To weigh thirty pounds of Cley & put that into ye
mingling box, 2, To weigh thirty pounds of Cley and put that
also into ye mingling box. Spreading all the Cley till it lye
Leuell. 3, Then weigh fourteen pounds of fine white, & ten
pounds of fine white sand, and pour y^m together upon the Cley,
and spread them to lye leuell, y^n mingle all y^e grate Shouell.
“_The fine white Cley for Gorges & Cans._--Take Cley sifted
three and thirty pound, ffine white thirty pounds. Mingle &
tread. The readiest way of weighing and mingling this Cley is
1^{st}, Weigh three and thirty pounds of Cley and put it into ye
mingling box, spreading it abroad till it lye leuell, 2, Weigh
thirty pounds of fine white, put it into the mingling box vpon
the Cley, spreading it to the leuell, then mingle them with y^e
grate Shouell.
“_The like fine white Cley in smaller quantity if occasion
require._--Take Cley sifted two & twenty pounds, ffine white
twenty pounds. Weigh the white first, and lay the Cley a top,
mingling y^m in the scale.
“_The fine white Cley for dishes or Teapots to endure boiling
water._--Take Cley sifted two & twenty pounds ffine white twenty
pounds. White ꝑ. Cyprus six pounds. Weigh these one vpon another
and mingle them in y^e Scale.
“‘_9ber_[43] _1695._ _An Essay towards a China Glasse._--Take
calcin’d sand six ounces, ffine white sand two ounces. Mingle
and melt them vnder the ffurnace into a white hard glasse. Take
of the set white hard glasse beated & sifted half a pound. White
Lead two ounces. Mingle & melt them into a glasse to be ground
for a china glasse.’ ‘Not (note) yt in burning China you must
set pots near the wideness of ye Arches and set them 6 inches
distant from one another and from the wall. The little furnace
where the last Red Teapots were burnt I take to be a convenient
one for this vse.’
“_1691 March 14._ _To make a gray Porcellane by Salt._--Take
eighteen pound of fine white Earth, two pound of fine pale
Earth, twenty pound of Cley, six pound of vnground White Earth
sifted through Cyprus sieve; mingle & tread. This is a strong
hardy Cley, fit for Garden pots, teapots, dishes &c.
“_1691 March 15._ _To make a blew porcellane Cley to be
turn’d into vessells or to spot and inlay pots of any other
Porcellane._--Take fiue pounds of Cley, fiue pound of ye fine
White Earth, one pound of zaffer fine ground-dryd and done
through a midling hair Sieve, mingle & tread. If it be wetted
with the white water ’twill be the brighter.
“_To make another blew porc: Cley more bright._--Take six pound
of fine White Earth, four pound of Cley, one pound of zaffer
ground fine dry’d & sifted through ye midling hair sieve,
mingle, and tread them w^{th} the white water.
“_1692 July 12._ _To make a blew porcell: Cley of inlaying or to
turn into vessells._--Take fine white two ounces. White ꝑ. Cyp’s
sieve one ounce. Best Smalt one ounce. Cley three ounces.
“_1693 9ber 14._ _To make transparent porcellane or China
Cley._--Take fine white Earth thirty pounds. Cley sifted twenty
pounds. Mingle & tread.
“_To make another transparent porcellane or China Cley._--Take
fine white Earth thirty pounds, Cley sifted fifteen pounds.
Mingle and tread.”
Other recipes are:
“Light grey Cley to endure boiling water;” “ffiner light grey
Cley for ye like vses;” “Mouse coloured cley to endure boiling
water;” “ffiner mouse coloured Cley for ye same vse;” “1698
Apr: 6. To make Number Sixteen;” “The best White Cley to make
Gor: Cans, or dishes to endure boiling water;” “To make ye
White Earth;” “To make the White Earth in larger quantity at
one time;” “To make the Dark Earth;” “To make fine White;” “To
make fine Dark;” “To make calcin’d Sand;” “To make white ꝑ.
Cyprus;” “To make ye Black Earth;” “A fine brown colour w^{th}
out Grinding;” “To make a fine bright and strong brown;” “To
make ye brightest brown colour;” “Cley to burn brown;” “for
marbling stone-pots;” “White to marble ston pots;” “Another
grey for marbl: stone pots;” “To make a fine white porcellane
Cley to be burnt w^{th} Salt fitt only for things of ornament;”
“Grey Cley for ye like vse;” “A darker Cley for ye same vse;” “A
Mouse colour’d Porcellane w^{th} white specks;” “A bright Mouse
colourd Cley to endure boiling water;” “A fine porcellane Cley
fit for deep dishes w^{th} out handles to be burnt w^{th} out
glasse in the strongest fire that may serve to perfect ye China
ware. ℞ Cley twenty pounds. ffine White twenty pounds. fine
Black Earth two pounds. White ꝑ Cyprus sieve six pounds. Mingle
& tread;” “The best Dark Earth;” “The fine grinding of the Dark
Earth;” “The best browne glasse for white browne pots;” “To
make the Dark Earth;” “A dark colour’d Cley for marbled dishes
and teapots to endure boiling water;” “The Mouse colour’d Cley
to endure boiling water;” “Another lesse red Cley;” “To make a
grey porcellane Clay hardy & fit for Garden Potts, Teapots &c.;”
“Another lighter Grey Cley;” “To make a deep red Cley of the
Staffordshire red Cley;” “Another good red of ye same Cley;”
“Another Red Cley;” “To make a Cley to burn brown strong & hardy
fit for teapots to be sprig’d white;” “To make ye best fine ston
Clay;” “Wh: br: & wh: gor: to be excisd[44] Cley sixty pounds,
White sand 12 pounds, ffine White 24 pounds.”
These extracts will be amply sufficient to show the interest and
importance of these curious old books which have so kindly been placed
at my disposal for this work by their owner, Mr. Bailey, but I cannot
refrain from giving some extracts of a totally different character.
These relate to the way Mr. Dwight had of being his own banker by
hiding his money in all sorts of out-of-the-way corners of his
pot-works until wanted. Probably there may still be some of _this_
“treasure-trove,” as well as his moulds and models, &c., to be turned
on by some fortunate possessor of the place.
“_1693 9ber._[45]--In ye garret in a hole vnder ye fire-place
240 G.[46] in a wooden box.[47]
“In ye old Labouratory at the old house, in two holes vnder the
fire-place on both sides ye ffurnace in 2 half pint Gor: Couered
460.
“Behind the door of the Old Labouratory, & within ye end of ye
bench, in a pot couered 200.
“In ye second presse in ye said Laboura: vnder some papers at ye
bottome in a bag some mill’d money.[47]
“Behind ye doore of the little parlor old house in a corner some
mill’d money.[47]
“In ye same little parlour behind some boxes just going into ye
kitchen some mill’d money.[47]
“In ye second side hole at the bottome of ye first ffurnace
in ye kitchen on ye right hand going to ye chimney, pott of
Gui:[46][47]
“between a little ffurnace & great one that joynes to ye oven
behind Shouels & forks some Gui:[47] “Close by those Shouells
w^{th} in a hole into ye vent of ye same large furnace, Gui:[47]
“In two holes of that great furnace running in almost to the
Ouen, 2 boxes full of mill’d money. May be drawn out w^{th} a
long crooked Iron standing behind ye kitchen door.[47]
“1698 Vnder ye lower shelfe in ye kitchen near y^e Oven, 2 cans
couer’d.
“In severall holes of ye ffurnace in ye middle of the kitchin
opening at ye top where the sands lyes is a purse of 100 gui: &
seuerall Cans couer’d.
“At ye further End of the bottome hole of my furnace in the
little parlour a box of 200_l._”
There are also many other matters of interest in these books; among
them the names of
a
“Lydia : ... Dwight
her Book 8
12
4
Ly
Fulham”
evidently in her own handwriting, and which I take to mean “Lydia
Dwight, her book, Fulham, 15”--the 15 being her age, which is arrived
at by adding the figures together as they occur in form of a cross, 1,
2, 8, and 4.
“Ly D. Lewin,” “Lydia Dwigh,” “Mrs. Deb Nel,” “Mrs. Deb N,” “Mary,”
“Deb Nel,” “Miss Betty Osgood,” “Miss Lucy,” “Miss Betty Osgood,” and
“Miss Molly Osgood,” are also scribbled in different parts of the book.
Dwight is stated to have buried, in like manner as he did his money,
all his models, tools, moulds, &c., in some still-unknown secret
hiding-place of his manufactory that his descendants might not continue
that branch of the trade which he had been the first to invent; and
very securely he has, evidently, done this; for, whatever may be found
in future alterations and excavations, it is certain that these have
never yet been brought to light. A few years ago, however, after taking
down some of the old buildings, which had become much dilapidated,
the workmen, while digging foundations for the new workshops, &c.,
discovered a vaulted chamber or cellar which had been firmly walled
up, and which, on being broken into, was found to contain a number of
stoneware grey-beards or bellarmines and ale-pots, &c., undoubtedly
of Dwight’s manufacture. These were of the same form, precisely, as
the old Cologne ones which they were intended to, and did, supersede
in this country--and were those “fine stone gorges never before made
in England”--and for which his patent was granted. One of these,
presented to me by the present proprietor of the works, Mr. Bailey, I
here engrave (Fig. 338).
[Illustration: Fig. 338.]
Nothing, at present, is known as to when the death of John Dwight took
place, or who succeeded him. A Dr. Dwight died at Fulham in 1737,
who, according to the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ of that year, was
“author of several curious treatises on physic. He was the first that
found out the secret to colour earthenware like china;” but this was
not John Dwight, as supposed by some writers, but Samuel Dwight, who,
in 1722, published “De Vomitione, et Purgatione, eorumque excessu
curando, necnon de emiticis Medicamentis, de Catharticis, et Variolis,
et Morbillis;” in 1725, “De Hydropibus;” and in 1731, “De Febribus,
Symptomaticis.” As the death of this Samuel Dwight took place in
1737, or sixty-six years after the date of John Dwight’s patent, the
probability is that he was the son of John Dwight, and that his finding
out the secret of colouring earthenware like china took place while
engaged in his father’s business. About this time it would appear
(probably after the death of Samuel Dwight) the business was carried
on by a Margaret Dwight, in partnership with Thomas Warland, and these
two--Margaret Dwight and Thomas Warland of Fulham, potters--became
bankrupt in 1746. This lady is said afterwards to have married a Mr.
White, or Wight, who continued the works. In 1762 “William White, of
Fulham, in the county of Middlesex, potter,” took out a patent for
the manufacture of “white crucibles or melting potts made of British
materials, and never before made in England or elsewhere, and which
I have lately sett up at Fulham aforesaid,” and which were composed
of “Stourbridge clay and Dorsetshire clay, calcined; mix them with
Woolwich sand and water, to be trodden with the feet, and then
burned.” For these he had, in the previous year, obtained a premium
from the Society of Arts. In 1795 the works were, according to Lysons,
“carried on by Mr. White, a descendant in the female line of the first
proprietor,” and they were so continued until 1862, when, on the death
of the then Mr. White, they passed into the hands of Messrs. Makintosh
and Clements. Two years later, however, on the death of Mr. Makintosh,
the works were sold to the present proprietor, Mr. C. I. C. Bailey,
who shortly afterwards considerably enlarged and improved them; he
having built a new factory and introduced the newest and most improved
machinery.
The articles and the wares made by the Dwights will have been pretty
well understood from the foregoing notice; but, in addition, it is
essential to speak of some few well-authenticated examples which still
exist. About the time of the sale in 1862, Mr. Baylis, of Priors
Bank, obtained from the Fulham works a number--about twenty-five--of
extremely curious and historically valuable specimens of the ware
produced there by the Dwights, and kept in the family. Of these he sent
a brief account to the _Art-Journal_,[48] a part of which I here
transcribe:--
“The first is a dish, said, and with more than mere probability,
to be one of a dinner set manufactured for the especial service
of Charles II. It is of a round form and large size, being
64½ inches in circumference. The groundwork is a rich blue,
approaching to the ultramarine; it is surrounded by a broad rim
nearly four inches wide, formed by a graceful border of foliage
and birds in white, and shaded with pale blue. The whole of
the centre is occupied by the royal arms, surmounted by its
kingly helmet, crown and lion crest. The arms themselves are
encircled with the garter, on which is inscribed the well-known
motto, ‘_Honi soit qui mal y pense_.’ The arms and supporters
rest upon a groundwork of foliage, in the middle of which is
the motto, ‘_Dieu et mon Droit_.’ The workmanship of this piece
of crockery is of very superior character, and a dinner set
of similar ware would make many a modern one look poor. The
solitary specimen left of this once-magnificent royal dinner
service _is believed to be by far the finest extant of this
early English manufacture_, and includes five classical figures
of brown ware, of admirable execution, testifying to the skill
and taste of the Italian workmen: they consist of Saturn--at
least we presume it is meant for him, as he is represented
with a child in his arms, which he seems to be on the point of
devouring, according to his agreement with his brother Titan.
He has already got the child’s hand in his mouth, and the bite
of his teeth is by no means agreeable to his offspring, as is
evident by the expression of pain on his countenance. The next
figure is Jupiter, the third is Neptune, the fourth Mars, and
the fifth either Adonis or Meleager, the emblem of the boar’s
head applying to either--the former being killed by a boar; the
latter having killed the boar; and as the head is cut off, and
lying at his feet, it is most probably Meleager, as he cut off
the head of the beast and presented it to Atalanta. The grey
ware consists of a bust of Charles II.; a bust of his queen,
Catherine of Braganza; another of James II., and a companion one
of his queen, Mary d’Este--all four of meritorious execution and
excellent likenesses; a statuette of Flora; a likeness of one
of the Dwight family, thirteen inches high; another of Adonis,
same height; and a likeness of a lady; a portrait of one of the
Dwights; a smaller pair of statuettes of a gentleman and lady
of the court of Charles II., probably intended as likenesses;
a curious figure, or rather bust, of one sleeping, or rather
lying on a pillow, for it was a death likeness, and is inscribed
‘Lydia Dwight, dyd March the 3rd, 1762;’ a drinking cup, called
Hogarth’s cup--it is lettered ‘Midnight Conversation,’ and
and has on it a representation of Hogarth’s picture in raised
figures, and also four arms of the City companies. There are
also four brown liqueur bottles, with white figures in relief,
_temp._ Charles II., with his initial letter; and one or two
specimens, such as a butter-boat and a couple of pickle saucers
of fine grey ware; but these appear of a somewhat different kind
of manufacture, and may have been brought from Delft.”[49]
Other productions were flip-cans, gorges, grey beards, ale pots,
bottles, mugs, single figures and groups, busts, statuettes, flasks,
leaf-dishes, &c. In the Jermyn Street Museum are some examples of this
ware, and others may be found in various private collections. Among the
latter may be named an historically interesting flip-can, belonging to
“Robinson Crusoe,” and carefully preserved by his family. It bears the
incised inscription--
“Alexander Selkirke. This is my one
When you take me on bord of ship
Pray fill me full with punch or flipp
Fulham,”
and is said to have been made for him in or about 1703.
The goods now made at these works, by Mr. Bailey, are glazed and
unglazed stoneware, porous ware, terra-cotta, and china. In stoneware,
or “Bristol ware,” all the usual domestic vessels--in bottles,
pitchers, jars, pans, drinking-mugs, tobacco-pots, feet, carriage, and
chest warmers, funnels, bird fountains, barrels, filters, &c.--are made
very extensively, as also are drain and sanitary pipes, traps, &c., of
every description. The stoneware is of the hardest, finest, and most
durable character, and the glaze is remarkably good. To this excellent
quality is to be attributed the success of these works, Mr. Bailey
supplying, I believe, the large house of Crosse & Blackwell, as well
as many distillers, chemists, and shippers, with their stoneware, both
for home and export trade, and constantly increasing his business and
premises. Works of art of a high order, in his stoneware, terra cotta,
china, and other productions, are now executed. For the stoneware
department, M. Cazin, late Director of the School of Art at Tours, in
France, has been engaged chiefly to design figured and other fancy
jugs, mugs, cannettes, &c. Some of these, with armorial bearings and
other decorations in incised lines, or impressed, are remarkably good
adaptations of the antique. A cannette, in my own possession, bearing
the artist’s name, “CAZIN, 1872, STUDY,” is remarkably good,
and gives evidence of great things to follow. Another example, also
in my own possession, and made expressly for me, is of excellent form
and remarkably pure and simple design. It bears an admirably modelled
armorial medallion, with arms, crests, helmet, mantling, &c., and is
likewise decorated with incised and relief ornaments. On the bottom is
the date, incised, “1873,” and on the handle the artist’s name, C.
CAZIN, also incised. In 1872 Mr. Bailey received a medal at the
Dublin Exhibition for his stoneware and terra cotta.
Mr. Bailey has introduced a marked improvement in the construction of
filters--the water passing downwards at the back, and then rising in
zig-zag direction by its own force to the tap at the top in front--thus
the water has to travel a much further distance through the filtering
matter (as shown by the arrows in the section) than the old method, and
having to be taken a far more circuitous course, it is brought more
thoroughly in contact with the purifying medium. The usual method is
for the water to pass perpendicularly down or up, but in these filters
the water is kept a considerable time in contact with the charcoal and
other ingredients, and any sediment is left at the bottom, instead of
forming a compact mass of filth for the water to pass through each time
it is filled.
[Illustration: Fig. 339.]
Terra-cotta stoves, of simple and effective construction, are also
extensively made at these works. In “Sunderland Ware”--_i.e._
brown ware, white inside--cream pots, starch pans, milk bowls, dishes,
trays, and basins are largely manufactured.
Chemical apparatus--receivers, retorts, evaporating dishes, condensing
worms, filtering and other funnels, still heads, &c.,--are a speciality
in these works, and are of high repute.
These various goods were thus spoken of in the Official Report of the
International Exhibition, 1871:--
“Mr. Bailey exhibits some samples of well-made chemical ware of
a highly vitreous and durable body, consisting of acid tanks,
retorts, receivers, condensing worms, and other vessels. He
sends one or two specimens of sewer pipes, well burnt, and of
dense body. His contribution of Bristol ware, for excellence
of make, glaze, and colour, is equal to any exhibited, and
comprises, among many other things, an ingenious ascension
filter, in which, by a certain arrangement of stoneware discs
in the interior, the water is more exposed to the filtering
material than in ordinary filters. A churn, entirely constructed
of stoneware, by this exhibitor, is also well worth notice; it
is stated to be exceedingly rapid in its action.”
In terra-cotta, the Fulham Works now produce vases, statues,
architectural enrichments, chimney shafts, stoves, &c., of very good
quality and of admirable design; Mr. R. W. Martin, sculptor, student of
the Royal Academy and Government Schools of Art, having been engaged
as modeller and designer. The productions in this department are of a
very high order of merit, and will take rank with those of any other
manufactory. The brackets and jardinières are of great beauty, and are
characterised by a pure artistic feeling and a touch such as is seldom
attained; the pieces bear evidence of being not only modelled by a
clever artist, but of receiving finishing-touches by the master-hand
itself. In colour the Fulham terra cotta is a light pink and a rich
red, and, when these are combined, a peculiar delicacy and finished
effect is produced. The mark R. W. MARTIN _fecit_ occurs
on the productions of this artist.
The manufacture of china ware was, during the year 1873, very wisely
and successfully added to this establishment, and, with the aid of the
good workmen and artists who have been engaged, has already done much
to establish a fresh fame for Fulham. The art direction of this branch
was placed by Mr. Bailey in the hands of Mr. E. Bennet, a well-known
sculptor, while the china body flowers, &c., were undertaken by Mr.
Hopkinson. I am the more particular in stating these arrangements as,
being the beginning of a new manufacture, I am desirous of putting on
record the circumstances of its commencement. The “body,” it may be
well to note, is made from Dwight’s original recipe--the very body of
which the first china ware made in England was produced--and therefore
the “Fulham china” of to-day has an historical interest attached to it
which is possessed by no other. It was a wise thought that induced Mr.
Bailey to restore to Fulham the special manufacture which has rendered
its name famous in the ceramic annals of this country; and it is to
be hoped that the spirit he has shown will be amply compensated by a
liberal patronage of his productions.
The marks used by Mr. Bailey are:--
[Illustration:
I. H. C. BAILEY
FULHAM
BAILEY
FULHAM
C. I. C. BAILEY
FULHAM POTTERY
LONDON.]
At the 1871 Exhibition (at which no medals were given) Mr. Bailey’s
productions were highly spoken of in the Official Report; and at the
Dublin Exhibition of 1872 he was awarded a medal for his terra cotta
and stoneware.
LAMBETH.
Lambeth has been a seat of pottery manufacture from an early period. In
mediæval times the characteristic brown-ware pitchers, pans, tygs, &c.,
were made; and, later on, at this place was quite a colony of makers
of Delft ware, who in turn gave place to stoneware manufacturers.
China, too, appears to have been made at Lambeth from perhaps 1760,
or thereabouts. It is recorded that in the middle of the seventeenth
century the Delft ware manufacture commenced; but it is not unlikely
that Rous and Cullyn, some years earlier, here established themselves
in the making of “stone potts, stone jugs, and stone bottels,” for
which they received a patent in 1626.[50] It is conjectured, and with
some probability, that one of the Delft ware makers at this place was
John Ariens Van Hamme, a Dutchman, who had come over from the Hague
under the encouragement of our ambassador, who, as has already been
shown,[51] took out a patent in 1676 for the “art of makeinge tiles and
porcelane and other earthen wares, after the way practiced in Holland,”
and who, with his staff of workmen, probably formed the nucleus of what
was afterwards a nest of potters, comprising, according to the “History
of Lambeth,” no less than twenty manufactories. In 1693 a trial took
place in the Court of Exchequer concerning some parcels of potter’s
clay which had been seized by the Custom House officers, under pretence
that it was fuller’s earth. In this trial five London potters, William
Knight, Thomas Harper, Henry De Wilde, John Robins, and Moses Johnson,
gave evidence in favour of the clay being potter’s clay. There is
nothing in the record of this trial to identify any of the five potters
therein named with Lambeth; but the probability is that some of them
belonged to that place. One of them, William Knight, was undoubtedly
the “William Knight of the parish of St. Buttolph Without, Aldgate,
London, Pottmaker,” concerning whom I give, from the original deed in
my possession, some particulars under the head of “Aldgate;” some of
the others were, I believe, of Lambeth. The account of the trial has
been printed by my friend, Mr. Reeks, in the “Catalogue of the Museum
of Practical Geology,” and is so interesting that I here reproduce it
entire.
_A Brief Account of the Evidence given on behalf of_ Edmund
Warner, _at a_ Tryal _had at the Bar the 24th of_ November,
1693, _before the Four Barons of the_ Exchequer, _relating to a
Parcel of_ Potters Clay, _seized by the_ Custom-House _Officers,
under the pretence of it’s being_ Fullers Earth.
_William Riddal_ swore that he was Steward and Tenant to the
said _Warner_ for above 20 Years, in all which time the said
_Warner_ constantly sold to the Potters in _London_ considerable
quantities of the same sort of clay now in dispute, for the
making of White and Painted Earthen-Ware: That he never
knew or heard that the least Parcel of it was ever sold as
Fullers-Earth, or put to any other Use than making Earthen-Ware,
excepting some small quantities yearly in the Neighbourhood for
daubing of Houses, which may be alledged as a good Argument
that the said Clay is not of the nature of Fullers-Earth; for,
whereas this makes the best Clay Wall in _England_, if it were
of the nature of Fullers-Earth, upon the first wet Weather it
would all fall to the Ground: He likewise further deposed,
That the first time the said _Warner_ shipt the said Clay for
_Holland_, it was seized by the _Custom-house_ Officers as
Fullers-Earth; but upon Tryal of it, they were convinced of
their Error, and cleared the same.
_William Knight_, _Thomas Harper_, _Henry de Wilde_, _John
Robins_, _Moses Johnson_ are all Potters in _London_, and
swore that they had all seen the said _Warner’s_ Clay, which
was seized, that it was really Potter’s Clay, and of the same
sort which they had constantly bought of him, some for above
25 Years, others ever since they were Traders, that it is of
a quite different nature from Fullers Earth; for the said
_Warner’s_ Clay tho’ never so often dissolved in Water, may be
brought into a Body again, and will work, like Wax, into any
shape, whereas Fullers Earth being once dissolved is never to be
got into any Body, but when it is dry crumbles like Sand, and
all the art of Man can never make a Pot of it.
_Hen. de Wilde_, one of the said Potters, farther deposed, That
about five Years since he shipt some of the said _Warner’s_
Clay for _Pensilvania_, where his Son had set up a Pot-House,
that the Custom-House Officers did then likewise seize it as
Fullers-Earth, but upon Trial of it found they were mistaken,
and cleared the same.
_Benjamin Furly_, Merchant in _Rotterdam_, to whom the said
_Warner_ consigned his Clay, _John Sonman_, Servant to the said
_Furly_, were, by virtue of a Commission from the Court of
_Exchequer_, examined upon Oath (by Commissioners appointed for
that purpose), to several Interrogatories, and their Depositions
being read in Court, did plainly prove that all the said
_Warner’s_ Clay which was sent for _Holland_ was really sold to
Potters for making of Earthen-Ware; That they never heard, nor
do believe that any part of it was ever used for the Fulling
Trade, or is any way proper for it; that they sold the said
_Warner’s_ Clay from 25 to 30 Guilders a Last, when they could
buy Fullers-Earth at 7 Guilders a Last.
_Adrian Van Arde_, sworn Measurer of all the Earth and Clay
imported to _Rotterdam_, was examined by vertue of the said
Commission, and Deposed, That for many Years which he had
been in that Office, he never knew or heard of any _English_
Fullers-Earth imported into _Holland_, that they were so
plentifully supplied with that sort of Earth from _Flanders_;
that it is commonly bought and sold at Seven Guilders a Last,
and had an Hundred Last by him to sell at the same Rate.
Ten or Twelve Potters in _Holland_ were likewise examined by
virtue of the said Commission, and deposed severally, That
they had bought considerable quantities of the said _Warner’s_
clay of Mr. _Benj. Furly_, and paid for the same from 25 to 30
Guilders a Last; that they used the same in making Earthen-Ware,
but do not believe it any way useful for the Fulling Trade, nor
never heard that any of it was ever sold for that use.
Colonel _Holt_, a Member of Parliament, swore, That he (being
very lately in _Holland_) made the strictest inquiries into
the Truth of this Business, that he could, First amongst the
Potters, who all declared to the same Effect, as in their
Depositions before mentioned, that he likewise took some of
the said _Warner’s_ Clay, and got a Fuller to try it, whether
it were any way useful for their Trade, who answered it was
not? nor could he use it if he might have it for Nothing; after
which the Colonel ask’d him, From whence they were supplied
with Fullers-Earth, and at what Rates? The Fullers answered,
generally from _Flanders_ at 6½, and 7 Guilders _per_ Last; and
sometimes from _Rosendale_, in the _States_ Dominions, at 10
Guilders _per_ Last; that being much dryer, and wasted less by
lying; all which the Colonel (being unwilling to believe upon
the Fuller’s bare word) caused to be drawn up in the Form of
an Affidavit, and the Fuller before a Magistrate, swore to the
Truth of it, which Affidavit the Colonel hath to produce.
Mr. _Edward Paget_, a Divine, swore, That he being in _Holland_
at the same time, made the like Enquiry amongst the Fullers at
_Layden_, the chief cloathing Town in _Holland_, who all gave
him the same Information, that the Fuller at Rotterdam had done
the Colonel above; and for his better satisfaction, Three of
the Chiefest went with him before a Magistrate, and swore to
the Truth of what they Affirmed; after which he went to _Delft_
amongst the Potters, who all affirmed the same thing, that the
Ten or Twelve had sworn in their aforementioned Depositions, the
Truth of which they attested by a Certificate, under the Hands
of above Twenty, which Affidavits, and Certificate, the said
_Paget_ hath to produce.
_Rich. Cutler_, _Matthew Hanson_, Ship-brokers, swore, They
had hired many Ships for the said _Warner_, to load Clay for
_Rotterdam_; and the general Price of the Fraight, and Primage
paid for the same, was 15 Guilders, 8 Stivers _per_ Last; and
sometimes 17 Guilders, 12 Stivers _per_ Last.
_Will. Read_, _Tho. Wood_, _John Saliby_, Mariners, swore, They
had the same Prices above mentioned, for several Fraights which
they carried, and saw delivered to the Potters in _Holland_.
_Hump. Bellomy_, _Richard Hopkins_, _Timothy Fowler_,
_---- Shepherd_, Worcester, are all Buyers, and Sellers of
Fullers-Earth, and swore they could well judge of the same,
having dealt therein from Ten to above Twenty-five Years, that
they all took Samples of the said _Warner’s_ Clay, out of the
King’s Celler, and tryed all the Experiments to judge of it,
that they were capable of; and possitively affirmed that it was
no Fullers-Earth; neither could they find anything of the Nature
of Fullers-Earth in it, that for their Use they would not give a
Shilling for 100 Last, for they should never be able to sell it.
Alderman _Bearcraft_, _Tho. Cooksey_, _John Wynn_, _Rowl.
Hancock_, _Gloucestershire_; _Rich. Osborne_, _Tho. Woorrel_,
_John Chilton_, _Sam. Beadle_, _Essex_; _Simon Meazy_, _John
Lawson_, _John Backer_, _John Peartree_, _Suffolk_; _John
Clarke_, Senior, _John Clarke_, Junior, _Will. Baines_, _Tho.
Baines_, _Dan. Baines_, _John Smith_, _John Carter_, _Dan.
Wenden_, _Sam. Wrinch_, _London_; _Dan. Barrs_, _John St.
Berry_, are all Clothiers, Fullers, and Cloth-Workers; being
the most eminent in their several Places; as well for Honesty,
as great Traders, and good Estates; they all swore they had
made the most impartial Experiments they could of the said
_Warner’s_ Clay, now in dispute, being the same taken out of
the King’s Celler, that they tried it upon several sorts of
Goods, as several sorts of _Cloth_, _Bays_, _Cloth-Serges_, and
_Perpetuanæs_, and every one possitively affirmed that it was
no Fuller’s-Earth, but on the contrary was an absolute Enemy to
the Woollen Manufacture; for instead of scouring, it fix’d the
Grease in the Grownd of all the Goods, that were done with it,
and instead of makeing them White, it absolutely stained them
Yellow, all which was apparent to the most common Eye, in all
the above-said several sorts of Goods, produced in Court: They
likewise declared upon Oath, that they were all Strangers to the
said _Warner_; and that it was as prejudicial to their interest,
to have Fullers-Earth Transported, as any men’s, and therefore
could have no Inducement to favour the said _Warner_, beyond the
Merits of his cause, to the Violation of their Consciences.
_This is so just a Recital of the Evidence given on behalf
of the said Warner, that he challenges the greatest of his
Enemies to detect him of the least Falsehood therein; and if his
Adversaries had been as fair in representing theirs, there would
have been no need of this; for whereas in their printed Papers
they make their Witnesses to affirm the said_ Warner’s _clay was
tried in all Experiments, without any mixture, there was not
above One or Two, but upon cross-Examination at the Tryal, owned
they used either Segg and Hogs dung, or Soap and Gauls with it,
which would have scowered any Cloath better without the said
Clay than with it._
_It may not be amiss likewise to observe that for a whole Year
in which the_ Custom-House _Officers have been so very diligent
in spreading the Fame of the said_ Warner’s _Clay to be the
best_ Fullers-Earth _in_ England, _he hath not been able to
sell the least quantity of it as such, tho’ he has proffered
it to all Men for a very little more than one-Third of what
Fullers-Earth is generally sold for._
The Delft ware here made was of the ordinary kind, same as imported
from Holland, and as that made in various English localities, and,
being without mark, is not to be distinguished from others. Besides
tiles, plates, jugs, mugs, dishes, &c., sack and other wine bottles,
apothecaries’ pill-slabs, wine-bin labels, &c., were made. Some of
these pill-slabs are preserved in the Jermyn Street Museum, as are also
some of the “sack-pots,” both of which may most probably, as well as
the apothecaries’ jars, be ascribed to Lambeth. They are all of Delft
ware, painted with blue, in the same manner as the tiles and other
articles of this ware.
In 1820 there “were six or seven potters in Lambeth,” says Mr. Goddard,
“working some sixteen small kilns, of seven or eight feet in diameter,
the produce of each kiln being under £20 worth of ware, the principal
articles made being blacking bottles, ginger-beer bottles (very
extensively made still), porter and cider bottles (not so largely made
now), spruce-beer bottles (gone, with the beer, quite out of fashion),
ink bottles (more used now than ever), oil bottles, pickle jars,
hunting jugs, &c. A few chemical vessels were also turned out well from
one kiln belonging to an eccentric individual, whose chief boast was to
drink a gallon of beer a day, and do without rest on Sundays.” In 1860:
“In place of some sixteen kilns, turning out each under £20 per kiln,
we have now about seventy, turning out each, perhaps, on an average
£50. They consume upwards of 20,000 tons of coal, paying a corporation
tax of say £2,100 per annum. The law requires this quantity to be burnt
without smoke, and, after immense cost and labour, this difficulty may
be called surmounted. Twenty-three thousand tons of clay are annually
changed into useful articles, giving employment to more than eight
hundred persons. The returns of the Lambeth potters cannot be estimated
at less than £140,000.”
_High Street._--From about 1750 to 1770 the Delft ware works were
carried on by a Mr. Griffiths, who had, for those days, a large
establishment. A curious reference to this manufactory occurs in the
following extract from the _Monthly Magazine_ for 1797. A man, at that
time unknown, but who turned out to be James Doe, a potter, committed
suicide by drowning, on the 14th of September in that year, at Sea Mill
Docks, two and a half miles from Bristol, having remained “fasting and
praying,” without food or bedding in the ruined building there from the
11th, waiting opportunity and determination to commit the rash act; and
having, during the whole of that time, written a kind of diary of his
feelings and intentions, his hopes and fears, on the walls of the old
room he remained in. Mr. Joseph James interested himself much in the
matter, and wrote an account for the _Monthly Magazine_; and this, and
the inquest, and other means he took, resulted in the discovery of
the name and some particulars of the life of the suicide. Two of the
letters forwarded in October, 1797, are highly interesting as showing
at what works he had been employed. The first letter is from London,
from “a respectable proprietor of a pottery there,” and thus runs:--