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The J D Pountney Period (1816-1852) |
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In 1816 the Carter and Pountney partnership was succeeded by Pountney and Allies until 1835. J D Pountney briefly traded alone, then in 1837 the partnership of Pountney and Goldney started. Pountney again traded alone from 1851 until his death on 30th December 1852. Edwin Allies was born on August 2nd 1788, and said to be the son of Sir John Allies a sugar planter in Barbados, and an old friend of Pountney's father and mother. He married Anne Dalton on 6th June 1816, initially they lived in Bristol, later moving to Canford House in Westbury-on-Trymn. He retired from the business in 1835, intending to farm, but died on March 3rd 1836 (in May 1836 the Bristol Mercury advertised for people having a claim on his estate). In November 1835 he insured a farmhouse for 500 pounds, plus argricultural produce for 1000 pounds. His brother, John, had a leather business in Broadmead. He had a set of Pountney and Allies square plates, with indentations in the corners for mustard, salt, pepper, etc. He also had a dinner service, with a Chinese pattern, made by Pountneys. His role in the pottery, and whether he introduced capital, is uncertain. The only record left is a simple statement, from 1835, saying that the partnership was dissolved. He is presumably the same person as the Edward Allies, described as a potter, who was recommended for freedom of the city on 8th March 1820, on payment of 50 guineas. Recent information suggests that Edwin's father was James Allies was Worcester, and Edwin had five brothers including Rev Thomas Allies (born 1785 and lived in Clifton in the 1820s). In 1819 the business employed about 200 men, women and children; it also had a steam engine used for grinding materials. Gabriel Goldney had been employed by the firm, as a traveller or collector of accounts, before becoming a partner. He was very much the junior partner, not being a potter but had administrative duties. After leaving the pottery he became a traveller for at Mr Finzel's sugar refinery at Counterslip, Bristol. Later he became a clerk at Powell's pottery. Goldney's partnership document of 1836 gives a total capital of 6000 pounds. Pountney's share was 5000 and Goldney's 1000. Goldney did not put in any money, his capital being repaid out of half of his annual profits. He was also allowed to draw 20 pounds per month (Pountney could draw 60) and had use of a house. This agreement is peculiar because of the low value of the business (in 1813 it was valued at 14000 pounds). This suggests that the business had declined. There may have been a partnership involving J D Pountney, Gabriel Goldney and Frederick Chapple (a former apprentice), because they wre the names shown paying the rates for 1839-40. Trade directories show Chapple living at 2 Water Lane for 1836-41, Goldney also lived in Water Lane for 1836-39 (rates and directories). The Pountney period is particularly associated with the production of blue and white, the modeler Edward Raby and the talented painter William Fifield. Fifield was not the only painter. Hugh Owen refers to two others decorators. Richard Peake, a flower painter, was employed from about 1850 to 1856 (he does not appear in the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census), and Henry Clark. Two other decorators were apprenticed to J D Pountney, they were William Davies on 29th March 1815 (he does not appear in the 1841 or 1851 census) and Henry Morrish on 7th November 1820 (he does not appear in the 1841 census, there is one in the 1851 census, aged 45 and residing in Castle Precincts, however his trade is given as an accountant, which suggests a different person). There may have been other decorators, but most apprentices do not have trades listed, these are the only ones listed as enamelers. Daniel Gage may have worked at the pottery as in 1826 he gained his freedom as he was the son of James Gage, a gardener, deceased. At the time he was decribed as pottery painter. He does not appaer in the 1841 or 1851 census. There were probably other painters at the pottery e.g. shards of a teaset (possibly c1840), found near the pottery site, show very simple floral painting, which required little skill. |
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