Stoneware and Other Potteries

The Medieval Period Thomas Pardoe Anthony Amatt Price and Powell The Yabbicom Family The Milsoms The Duffett Family The White Family The Sugar Mould Pottery John Ellis William Henry Pardoe Other Potteries Apprentices and Workmen Stoneware Examples

During the 18th and 19th centuries Bristol had a considerable pottery industry.  In addition to decorative delftware and porcelain, production included earthenware tiles, clay pipes for tobacco smoking and stoneware. Stoneware is a type of pottery fired to a high temperature (1100-1300 degrees Celsius) so that it becomes vitrified, so that even in an unglazed state it is impervious to liquids.  Unglazed stoneware was made in China by the 1st century.  It was separately invented in Germany in the 13th century, and in the early 16th century salt-glazing was introduced.  Salt-glazed stoneware was imported into England from Germany by the late 16^th century, and there were considerable imports during the 17th century particularly into Bristol.  The first domestic production was probably at Woolwich (near London), where a kiln has been excavated.  Originally this was thought to date to the 1660s, but it may relate to a patent obtained by Thomas Rous and Abraham Cullen in 1626.  There were other short-lived attempts, but success only came when John Dwight made copies of German stoneware at his Fulham pottery.  He had obtained a patent on 17th April 1672, which he would strongly defend.  Salt-glazed stoneware was made from clay, to which sand had been added.  When the temperature of the kiln was at its highest salt was thrown in, this results in a salt-glaze (sodium alumina silicate).  Chlorine, from the salt, passes out through the kiln chimney (no environmental concerns in those days!).  Around 1690 John Elers made fine red unglazed stoneware, in the Chinese manner, at Bradwell Wood in Staffordshire.  Recent research has shown that the red clay must be fired at exactly 1120 degrees. Production ceased around 1700, and red stoneware would not be produced again, in Staffordshire, until about 1750.  However, by 1720 other Staffordshire potters began producing white salt-glazed wares, and it became the major production centre for decorative items.  Staffordshire wares were regularly sold in Bristol. In addition to decorative and tableware, stoneware was ideally suited to utilitarian items such as bottles (in which Bristol was to specialise).  The first Bristol stoneware was made at Tower Harratz in the late 17th century and also may have been made by Mary Orchard c1700.  It was certainly made at Temple Backs by 1725.  From the 1760s stoneware was also extensively produced in Bristol, mostly by a number of small potteries.  During the 19th century the Bristol industry would become dominated by two firms, Powell and Price.  William Powell introduced his improved glaze in 1835, which eventually replaced salt-glazing.