The Sugar Mould Pottery

It is rather surprising that a comprehensive record exists for a pottery from is start to almost 120 years of its life, particularly since it was outside the city limits.  The records of the Bristol Gas Light Company, held in Bristol Record Office (28777/G/Py/1-16), provide such information.  The following is a summary of the records. 1/2nd February 1721 Sir Abraham Elton sold to John Dalton and Joseph Hill a meadow called Loughans or Longham or Cuckold's Pill.  The meadow was estimated at four acres.  A later plan (see below) shows that the land was in Avon Street. 19th November 1735 Dalton and Hill had been partners in brickmaking and had contrcated many debts; Dalton now granted the estate to Hill. 30th May 1754 Joseph Hill by his will of this date devised his estate to his son Samuel. 1759 Samuel Hill died intestate leaving an only son Joseph. 14th April 1764 Joseph and Elizabeth Hill granted the land to William Matthew for 1000 years at a price of £1000, however it would appear that Hill still operated the pottery. 17th April 1770 The following appeared in Felix Farley's Brisrol Journal:  "Joseph Hill takes this method of acquainting his friends and the public, that at his pottery in St Philip's, Bristol, is made every sort of sugar moulds and garden pots. Where merchants and others may be supplied on the shortest notice, and reasonable terms.  He likewise makes all sorts of chimney moulds for ornament, and the preventing of smoky chimnies". 27th July 1772 William Matthew assigned the land to Thomas Easton at the agreement of Hill. 21st May 1772 John Prother of Clifton in the County of Gloucester, a master brick maker; Ann his wife; and John Hawkswell of the City of Bristol a gentleman leased the land to Evan Rice, Samuel Henderson and Thomas Keene all the City of Bristol, sugar refiners.  The property was a pothouse, sheds, yard and buildings situate in the out parish of St Philip and Jacob in the County of Gloucester; since in the possession of Joseph Hill; late of Messrs Prother and Easton; now of Evan rice, Samuel Henderson and Thomas Keene.  The rent was £30 per annum. 17th September 1772 The Bristol Gazette advertised the pottery let to Henderson, Rice and Keene for a term 21 years to be sold. 7th August 1776 Thomas Whitehead of the City of Bristol a banker; John Mills a gentleman; Griffith Maskelyn a merchant and Joseph Hawkswell a gentleman were assignees of the estate and effects of Joseph Hill late of St Philip and Jacob in the County of Gloucester, brick maker, dealer and chapman, a bankrupt.  The property was sold to John King of the City of Bristol, a cheese factor, and Edward Daniel of the same city a gentleman.  It consisted of a pottery and buildings for the making and manufacturing of sugar moulds and pots and other articles with a burning kiln, sheds and premises adjoining.  It was on the bank of the River Avon, bounded of the east by Avon Street, on the west by the river, on the south by the vitriol works and on the north by void ground called Loughans, or Longham or Cuckold's pill.  It was in possession of Evan Rice and company as tenants. 14th October 1791 Jacob Sellwood Riddle of St Philip and Jacob, a lead refiner, and Thomas Godwin a gentleman of Trowbridge in the County of Wiltshire purchased the property from John King and Edward Daniel.  The fee simple was purchased from Joseph Hawkswell for £550.  It was described as a pottery and buildings for making sugar moulds, formerly in the tenure of Evan Rice and Company, and now for several years past of Joseph Sellwood Riddle as tenant. 28th September 1810 Jacob Sellwood Riddle of the City of Bristol a lead merchant leased the property to Henry Yabbicom of the City of Bristol a potter.  It was described as a pottery formerly in the possession of Joseph Hill; after of Messrs Prother and Easton; after of Evan Rice, Samuel Henderson and Thomas Keene of the City of Bristol, sugar refiners; after of Jacob Sellwood Riddle; late of Roger Yabbicom and the said Roger Yabbicom.  The lease was for 7 years at £63 per annum.  Trade directories list the Yabbicom's at this pottery for 1797-1842 (see also the Yabbicom family). 11th October 1820 Thomas Hooper Riddle sold the pottery to the Bristol Gas Light Company. 9th June 1830 The Bristol Gas Light Company leased the pottery to Henry Yabbicom the elder, Henry Yabbicom the younger and Thomas Bawn Yabbicom for 14 years at £42 per annum.

An undated map of the bank of River Avon showing the Sugar Mould Pott House (from BRL B4978).