Pountney's Accounts

1884 Accounts These accounts show that two potteries were still in operation, Bristol and Victoria.  They are presented in a straight forward manner, with a consolidated balance sheet, plus profit and loss accounts for each of the potteries.  It is quite clear that the administration was done at the Bristol pottery.  The profit and loss accounts show that Bristol had sales of 12261 pounds, wages of 5586 and salaries of 237.  The Victoria's sales were 6397 and wages of 4555. The balance sheet shows a poor financial position with the Bristol pottery loosing 1962 pounds and the Victoria 1647.  One assumes that the losses caused the closure of the Bristol pottery in 1886.  The two potteries are valued at 8587 and 7496 pounds respectively.  The balance sheet also shows two interesting assets: Direct Photo & Co. Ltd 2100 pounds and Slater's patent 300.  The entry for Direct Photo presumably reflects some investment in direct photographic printing of pottery.  Slater's patent was used by Doulton for special effects on pottery and it is possible that Bristol's interest in the patent may have been sold to Doulton.

1884-86 Receivership Accounts Receivership followed the death of Patrick Johnston, and the action was brought by Jonas Green and others against Thomas Gwinnell Johnston and Catherine Emma Johnston.  The receivers were Alfred Hiley and Charles Burn.  The accounts run from 12th August 1884 to 31st July 1886.  In the accounts Burn is described as the cashier and T B Johnston as the overseer.  They show that both the Bristol and Victoria potteries were mortgaged, and they also list every sale and purchase.  Among the suppliers were: Coal Bedminster Coal Company, Bristol Collieries, A S Smith (a coal merchant in Knowle Road), R C Ring & Co. (only a small quantity), Pennywell Coal Company, Leonard Boult & Co., J Vipond & Co. and J Bird & Co. Clay Pochin & Co., W R Varcoe, Pike Bros, Watts Blake & Co., Price Sons & Co. and Devon Clay Co. Flints Taylor & Son Fire Clay J Stibbs (many entries). Gold for Gilding H J Cyples, Johnson Mattey & Co. and Sampson Smith.  The gold is also referred to as liquid gold. Filter Cloths Whitehead Bros and H C Heath White Lead C Hare & Co Borax H Coghill & Sons and W Carson & Son Cobalt Wiggin & Co. (they also supplied brown lime) and J Keeling Plaster of Paris Pegg & Co. Sponges J J Mackay & Co. and H Stevenson (cut sponges). Spars and Stilts Buller & Co Zinc Peters & Co Glass Cashman & Co. and J Barker. Colours Thomas Bregg and A Wenger.  This may have been window glass rather that items for re-sale. Silk Lawns Adams & Co. and Iris Clark. Printing Paper J Lamb Modelling W Willis Copper plate engraving A Hudson Electroplates Cassell & Co Sieves Finch & Goodwin Brushes J J Bissicks Chromate of Iron Ino Jones Oven & Kilns J Penny received many payments for work on the new oven and kilns. Bricks William Hickey.  Hickey was the local brickmaker and some of the entries refer to bricks for the new oven. Cement Crown Clay Co (of Crews Hole). Travellers Commission G J Golding, J Mayer and J G Robinson.  Robinson was also paid for a copper plate. China D Chapman,  Hallam & Blair and J Rose & Co.  Hallam & Blair were at longton, Staffordshire for 1887-8 (Henrywood).  J Rose is now known as Coalport. Yellow Ware T G Green.  Greens started in 1864 at Burton-on-Trent in Derbyshire (Godden Marks). Teapots H Hall and Pegg & Co.  Hall was at Hanley from 1870 (Henrywood). Egg Cups J E Ridingbury.  James E Ridingberry was a toy manufacturer at various addresses in Lawrence Hill, Bristol, between 1864 and 1889. Earthenware C Allerton & Son.  Allertons were at the Park Works, Longton, Staffordshire from 1860 (Henrywood).. Writing in 1964 Patrick Johnston said that Pikes, Pochins, Varcoes, Watts Blake, Bullers, Wengers and Johnson Mattey were still on their list of suppliers.  He also says that T B Johnston sacked Hiley, but later employed in a part-time capacity.  Johnston could remember him, as an old man, working in the ledger office in 1919.  This part, about Hiley, may be incorrect.  Firstly Johnston calls him Riley, and he could not have been sacked, except by the court.

1890-98 Revenue Accounts These accounts are for financial years ending on 31st March.  The joint managing directors wre paid 300 pounds per annum each.  Over these years sales would increase about 50%, from an inital 18129, and profits double, from 1122.  The Victoria pottery was still mortgaged, with annual interest payments between 305 and 350.  There are some minor references to the Crown pottery, but only for 1892-4. They show a considerable improvement on the 1884 accounts, not just in sales and profits, but also in productivity.  The ratio of wages to production for 1891-8 is 2.49, that for 1884 only 1.64, an increase of 51.8%.