The Ring and Carter Period (1784-1815)
Richard
Frank sold the Temple Back pottery to his son-in-law, Joseph Ring,
in September 1784. It has been said that Ring extended
the pottery, however the rate books show that this was not the
case. An inventory produced, at that time, indicates that the
pottery was selling Staffordshire wares. Stoneware bottles were
also made there, a business which Ring initially continued.
Anthony Hassells of Shelton, Staffordshire, had previously supplied
"Queens ware" (creamware), and in 1786 his business was
bought by Ring. He and some of his workmen moved to Bristol to
commence creamware production (Hugh Owen). "Staffordshire
Potters" by R K Henrywood only records a John Hassells, who was
at Shelton in 1784. Stoneware production presumably stopped
about this time.
Cream-colored earthenware, with a lead glaze, was made in Staffordshire as early as 1743. In the early 1760s Josiah Wedgewood made it lighter and more durable. In 1763 he supplied tea and coffee sets to Queen Charlotte and in 1765 he named it "Queens Ware". By 1768 he made it much lighter in color. Other major centres of manufacture were Leeds, Swinton, Liverpool and Swansea. Owen describes Bristol creamware as having a white body, but a yellower glaze than Wedgwood or Leeds. The factory had started making pearl-ware about the same time. Josiah Wedgewood had originally developed this type of pottery about 1779. Unlike creamware it was suitable for use with under-glaze transfer printing. It could also be made as thin as porcelain, although it was not translucent.
In 1788 Ring entered into partnership with William Taylor and Henry Carter; trading as Ring, Taylor and Carter (see above trade card). According to Jewitt Ring contributed 3000 pounds, with Taylor and Carter adding another 1500 jointly. Ring was killed on 5th April 1788 and his widow continued the partnership. The partnership was dissolved on 31st December 1791, and subsequently carried on by Robert Ring (a brother of Joseph) and Henry Carter. In January 1794 an advert in the Bristol Gazette stated that a retail outlet had been opened, near the pottery, at 7 Bath Street. An newspaper advert of 30 Sep 1797 announced that the partnership between Ring and Carter was dissolved on 1st June, and that Carter would continue alone. Henry Carter had a large country house in the Wells Road in 1797. In 1800 the pottery employed upwards of 100 people. In Matthew's trade directories, for 1805-7, and in addition to the main entry, there is also an entry "Henry Carter & Co - Sugar, Chimney & Garden Pot manufactory". I do not know if the pottery made these items, or were acting as an agent for another maker.
On 5th April 1813 Henry Carter, Joseph Ring II and J D Pountney entered into partnership; trading as Carter, Ring and Pountney. Joseph Ring II, the son of Joseph senior, was born shortly after 1774. In 1795 he married Sarah Wallis. He was a skilled enameler and painter. Ring acted as the manager, with a salary of 150 pounds per year and the use of a house. By 6th January 1814 Ring had died, the partnership being renamed Carter and Pountney.
In 1787 the business had a mill at Woolard, near Pensford in Somerset. However, the stream produced insufficient power. A further mill was tried at Hanham, but his was abandoned, as by 1819 the pottery had a steam engine for grinding materials. In 1798 Henry Carter began paying the rates on the house at 2 Water Lane. For 1798-9 it was occupied by Joseph Ring, in 1800 by Harris. For 1801-7 Robert Ring paid the rates, the property being shown as empty in 1801-2. In 1808 Henry Carter commenced paying the rates again and the property remained with the pottery until closure.
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Signature
of Henry Carter in 1797, when he was a church warden of Temple Church.Products
Ring period cream and pearl wares are difficult to indentify, because few are marked. They produced some creamwares painted with botannical designs, but similar items were made by others. Another theme were pearlwares, printed with an over-glaze outline, and then filled in with enamel (applied transfer), some of these are marked 'Bristol Pottery'. Archaeology has shown that transfer printed pieces were made as early as the 1780s, they also probably produced blue painted wares. Mocha ware appears to have been made by 1800. Adverts placed by Henry Carter suggest that much of the production may have been exported (export records do not support this). There was a retail outlet in Bath Street and Elizabeth Ring(widow of Joseph I) had her own retail business from 1808.