Westbury-on-Trymn and the Yabbicom Family

The location of the pottery in Westbury had much to do with good local supplies of clay, lead for the glaze, and wood for fuel.  The earliest reference to a potter in the parish in the parish is Roger Yeamans in 1695.  Other family members involved in potting were John, Richard, Robert (a son of Roger), Sampson and his son Samson the younger, and Samuel (a possible son of Roger).  In 1746 a kiln, location unknown, is mentioned in the will of the older Samson Yeamans.

A marriage licence of 1691 mentions Ralph Eaton as a potter of Westbury.  His son, also called Ralph, was apprenticed to the Bristol potter Mary Orchard in 1715.  Ralph senior died in 1721.  In 1718 Thomas Jones died and it is mentioned that he was in the employ of Richard and Samuel Yeamans.  Other Westbury potters were Reece Derrick (1723), Stephen Boyce (1732) and Henry Albright (1732).

The Burfield or Sugar House pottery was on the site of 137 to 143 Westbury Road, and there has been recent archaeology on the site.  It was first mentioned in 1742 when Daniel Saunders was in occupation.  Saunders was bankrupt by 1770.  On 26th September 1772 in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal three shares in the Sea Mills dock, plus other property was for sale.  This was in possession of Daniel Saunders, potter, a bankrupt, of Coate in the parish of Westbury-on-Trym.  Three others potters, Abraham Corp, James Corp and John Roberts were in Westbury during the Saunders period and may have been in his employ.

In 1772 the pottery was sold to George Hart, and on 10th April 1773 the following appeared in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal: "George Hart, Westbury near Bristol, begs leave to inform his friends and the public, that besides sugar-pots and moulds he makes all sorts of useful and ornamental chimney-pots, so much approved and esteemed for their singular qualifications of curing smoky chimneys, which has had its desired effect, after every other method has been tried. Likewise, all kinds of useful and ornamental garden pots. The chimney and and garden pots may be had of Mr David Cherry, auctioneer in Bridewell Lane; and all principal masons in Bristol.  The chimney and garden pots are made of so peculiar a sort of clay, that they are warranted to stand the severity of frost and weather, without scaling off or losing any of their useful ornaments".  In the same paper, on 24th July 1773, William Plant announced that he had opened a china, glass and Staffordshire warehouse in Wine Street (he already had premises on The Quay).  The advert contains the following: "All sorts of garden pots, useful and ornamental, from Mr Hart's manufactory at Westbury, sold at the above warehouse, and at no other Place in Bristol".  Sketchley's directory of 1775 only mentions the premises on The Quay.

In 1775 the pottery was leased to Stephen Fricker.  He probably employed John Ifell and Samuel Rose.  Fricker had financial problems caused by the American war and gave up the pottery.  Roger Yabbicom may have taken over the pottery in 1784, and was certainly there in 1788.  In 1795 Roger Yabbicom and Son were producing sugar, chimney and garden pots.  The pottery closed in 1797.

In Yabbicom took over a pottery that had existed since 1721, this was the  Sugar Mould Pottery.  Trade directories from 1797 refer to the "Sugar, Chimney & Garden pot manufactory, Avon Street, St Philips".  The St Philip's address continued until 1842.  There was a second pottery in Temple Backs (or Pipe Lane) from 1805 to 1862, R Yabbicom & Son commenced paying rates in 1805.  In 1807 Henry Yabbicom insured his workshops for £600 and his house in Westbury-on-Trymn for £300.  The manufacture of garden pots, etc. continued until 1853, but from 1837 pantile and fire-bricks are added to the list.  In a separate entry 1813 sees the business decribed as "manufacturers of crucibles and best in stoneware", 1814 as "manufacturers of stone ware", and from 1827 "manufacturers of stone ware and improved water pipes".  Stoneware continued to be mentioned until 1862.  It is probable that the stoneware was made at Temple Backs and the redware at Avon Street.  There are recorded stoneware spirit bottles that are known to have been marked.

After 1809 the potteries were run by Roger's son Henry, and from 1813 with a Thomas Yabbicom.  Henry was suceeded by his son, also called Henry, directory listings from 1842 referring to H & E Yabbicom.  A rate book entry for 1833 suggests that the Avon Street premises consisted of two separate potteries (each rated at 20 pounds).

In 1843 the pottery, which included a dwelling house, was insured for 1300 pounds.  In 1864 a Henry Yabbicom, described as a gentleman of King Square, insured a lodging house in St. Philips.

The poll books show the following:  Edward Yabbicom voted from Cheese Lane (a continuation of Avon Street) in 1832 and 1835;  and Henry Yabbicombe jnr voted from Cheese Lane in 1837 and 1840.  Both were described as potters.

The following advertisement appeared in the Bristol Mirror on 16th October 1841: "H Yabbicom, manufacturers of brown stoneware, firebricks, pantiles, flooring squares, chimney pots, &c.  Avon Street, St Philip's and Commercial Road, Temple Backs, Bristol.  Returns his most grateful thanks to his friends and those of his late brother, for the very liberal support they experienced for a series of years; and begs to inform them and the public that the business will be continued as before at the above named places, where any favours will be gratefully received with every attention.  H Y begs to say his brown stoneware is made on a new and improved principle, glazed inside and out, will not absorb, and will resist the action of the strongest acids or alkalis, and quite may be made perfectly clean.  His manufacturer of firebricks and burrs of all sizes and patterns, he can confidently recommend as superior to the best Stourbridge"  The glaze referred to is Powell's improved.

I am indebted to the published article by Reg Jackson for information about the Westbury pottery.