Bristol Potteries - S

St Philip’s Pottery 1

Back Lane/Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed.

Paul Townsend became a free gallypotmaker in July 1731 and in 1734 he established and built his ‘mugg-kiln’ in Tucker Street.  The Common Council of Bristol forced him to close that pottery down in December 1738 and he received £50 in compensation.

With that he set up the St Philip’s Pottery 1 in about 1740, its location being given in the rate books as Back Lane, Unity Street and Jacob Street, all being in the Avon Street area.  The property was described as ‘void’ in the poor rate book of September to March 1740 but it was occupied from March 1740 onwards.  Townsend was described as a potter when he took three apprentices between 1741 and 1753, but as a gallypotmaker in the poll books of 1739 and 1754.

In 1760 Townsend petitioned the Mayor and Common Council of Bristol for the post of Exchange Keeper as he was ‘a stone potter, a free burgess of near 60 years of age, now rendered incapable of getting a sufficient competency in his trade’.  However, he was not elected to the post.

Paul Townsend continued paying rates on the pottery until March 1762, after which date the rates were paid by his son, John Townsend, also a potter, and it seems likely that John was then running the pottery.

In August 1768 the St Philip’s Pottery 1 was advertised to be let or sold and was described as ‘a commodious pot-house situate in Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob.  Lately in the occupation of Paul and John Townsend, who erected a new kiln built of Stourbridge bricks, also a large workhouse and other convenient buildings at a considerable expense … N.B. – a purchaser will be preferred, to whom the working materials and utensils (which are almost new) will be sold very reasonably’.

There is no record of the pottery operating after 1768.

Wares produced

Probably tin-glazed earthenwares initially as Townsend was described as a gallypotmaker in 1739 and 1754, although Paul Townsend described himself as a ‘stone potter’ in 1760, suggesting he was producing stonewares.

St Philip’s Pottery 2

St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery probably closed, Josiah Duffett having moving to the Barton Hill Pottery in 1804.

Edward Rumley was recorded as a potter of St Philip’s parish from 1742 and it is probable that he was the ‘Rumney’, the owner or occupier of a pothouse, who in May 1749 was accused of creating a nuisance and encroaching on the River Avon ‘above the Bridge’ [presumably Bristol Bridge] by depositing ‘a large quantity of potsherds … on the banks of the said river near the glasshouse’.   Edward Rumley wrote his will in March 1759 where he was described as a potter and, although the will mentions his three houses, two of which were in Avon Street, there is no reference to a pottery.

It is not known what happened to this pottery after 1749 but it is possible that it is the same property that was being run by Joseph Hill in April 1770 when he advertised that he ‘takes this method of acquainting his friends and the public that at his pottery in St Phillip’s, Bristol, is made every sort of sugar moulds and garden pots, where merchants and others may be supplie’d on the shortest notice and reasonable terms.  He likewise makes all sorts of chimney moulds for ornament and preventing smoky chimneys’.

He advertised again in August 1771: ‘Joseph Hill takes this method to acquaint the public in general and noblemen and gentlemen who inhabit this and the neighbouring counties in particular, that at his Pottery in St Philip’s, are made his new-invented moulds for the preventing of smoaky chimnies, which very seldom fail, as numbers in and about this city can testify.  Nor is that their only use, for they entirely prevent rain, hail or snow from falling down the chimney. He therefore apprehends no one would chuse to be without them, (even if their chimnies do not smoke) to prevent so great an inconvenience. They are three feet high and made to fit any chimney, of very little weight, and will resist the most violent gust of wind. – Plain sold at 4s, pined 7s.6d and cannister and hooded at 12s a-piece.  Any person may have them at the shortest notice, by sending the size of the chimney’.

Hill offered the pottery for sale in September 1772 when it was described as ‘a large and commodious well built pottery, with a large yard and sheds, landing stank, and every other conveniency, situate on the bank of the river … now let to Messrs Henderson, Rice and Keenes’.    The identity of the individual partners in the firm of Henderson, Rice and Keenes are not known.  However, they were presumably the Thomas Keene and Company who were exporting earthenware to Dublin, Philadelphia and Corunna in 1773.

In 1774 the premises were described as ‘a pottery and building for the purpose of making and manufacturing sugar moulds and pots and other articles with a burning kiln and sheds’.

Joseph Hill had died by November 1775, having previously been declared bankrupt, when his estate was offered for sale, which presumably included the pottery let to Henderson, Rice and Keene, and as there are no further references to that partnership it is assumed that they went out of business.

It was probably this pottery that was taken over by Josiah Duffett in about 1780.  Duffett had obtained his freedom as a potter in October 1780 and was described as a potter of Avon Street from 1780 to 1804.

In September 1804 he was noted as renting the Barton Hill Pottery.  Although the directories recorded him as a potter in Avon Street until 1809, it seems most likely that he closed the St Philip’s Pottery 2 in 1804 when he moved to Barton Hill.

Wares produced

Red earthenwares, including sugar moulds, garden pots and chimney pots.

St Philip’s Pottery 3

Bread Street/Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

Between 1812 and 1842 there may have been two potteries operating on the site, one run by Henry Yabbicom I and the other by his sons Henry Yabbicom II, Thomas Bawn Yabbicom and Edward Yabbicom as the directories also listed:
1812-1836  H & T Yabbicom.
1837-1842  H & E Yabbicom.

It is not known when William Maynard I established the St Philip’s Pottery 3, although he was certainly taking apprentices from 1760.  Various addresses for Maynard were given in the apprenticeship records – Old Market, Three Crown Lane, Back Lane – but later 18th-century documents certainly show him as working in Bread Street.

It is assumed that William Maynard I had left the pottery by 1776 and it was taken over by William Maynard II who had gained his freedom as a potter in August 1777 and immediately started taking apprentices.  The relationship between William Maynard I and II is not known.  They were not father and son, but may have been cousins.  The apprenticeship records gave William Maynard II’s address as St Philip’s Plain or Bread Street but the directories listed him as a brown stone and redware potter and a chimney mould maker at Bread Street from 1787 to 1797.  He then moved to the Counterslip Pottery which had been operated by Joseph Gadd and Company.

It seems most likely that Roger Yabbicom and his son, Henry Yabbicom II, previously of the Westbury-on-Trym Pottery, took over the St Philip’s Pottery 3 as the directories recorded the firm of Yabbicom and Son working as sugar, chimney and garden pot manufactures in Avon Street or Cheese Lane from 1797 to 1809.  The pottery was insured for £600 in 1807 when it was described simply as ‘workshops and sheds communicating’.  They also acquired the Temple Back Pottery 2 in 1806.

Roger Yabbicom died in March 1810 and both potteries were then run by Henry Yabbicom I who was described as a sugar, chimney and garden pot manufacturer.  In 1815 Yabbicom rented a field called Four Acres on the Cote Estate adjoining Durdam Down for a period of seven years.  It measured 91 yards by 28 yards and Yabbicom was allowed to dig and carry away clay from the land provided that ‘Mr Yabbicom engages from time to time to fill up the places from which clay is dug, and to cover them on top with the mould which has been previously removed … in consideration of his being allowed to leave at the expiration of his term one place or pit not filled up but which shall not be larger than sufficient to hold twenty cart loads of rubbish … He further agrees to pay for the said piece of land so marked out, twenty pounds p. annum …’.  This lease was renewed in February 1818 in respect of a property called Gregorys Leaze.

From 1812 Henry Yabbicom I’s sons, Henry Yabbicom II and Thomas Bawn Yabbicom, were also operating a pottery in Avon Street, manufacturing stone ware.  It seems likely that the two potteries shared the same premises and they are both referred to here under St Philip’s Pottery 3.  The sons are listed separately in the directories, trading as H. & T. Yabbicom manufacturing crucibles, brown stone ware and improved water pipes, pantiles and fire bricks in Avon Street.  From 1832 to 1842 they were trading as H. & E. Yabbicom, presumably the brothers Henry Yabbicom II and Edward Yabbicom.

From 1810 to 1842 H. & T. Yabbicom, Yabbicom & Co., and H. Yabbicom were exporting stoneware, including stone bottles and sugar moulds, to Waterford, Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Guernsey, Jersey and Bordeaux.

In March 1824 the pottery was advertised for sale and was described as ‘a wharf and pottery in Avon Street, St Philip’s, late in the occupation of Messrs. Yabbicom & Sons, stone ware potters, having a frontage and wharfage of 80 feet, and measuring in depth 167 feet or thereabouts’.  Despite the suggestion that Yabbicom and Sons had vacated the premises it was again advertised in April 1844 when it was described as ‘a spacious pottery situate in Avon Street … opposite the works of the Bristol Gas Light Co., having a frontage against the Floating Harbour of 80 feet’.

By 1844 Henry Yabbicom I appears to have retired and his son, Henry Yabbicom II, had left the St Philip’s Pottery 3 and was carrying on the business at the Temple Back Pottery 2.

By 1847 the St Philip’s Pottery 3 had been taken over by William Henry Pardoe who was listed in the directories as a potter and tobacco pipe maker in Avon Street.  From 1849 he was simply described as a tobacco pipe manufacturer although in 1858 he was a ‘vitrified stone ware potter, tobacco pipe, garden pot & red ware manufacturer [at] Nantgarw, near Cardiff … and at Avon Street, St Philip’s, Bristol’.

He was recorded in the Cardiff Directory of 1858 as ‘William Henry Pardoe, vitrified stone ware potter, tobacco pipe, garden pot & red ware manufacturer, Nantgarw, near Cardiff, Glamorganshire; and at Avon Street, St Philip’s, Bristol.  Jars for spirits, porter, ale, ginger beer, and other bottles, warranted not to absorb and withstand acids.  Gentlemen supplied with every description of garden pots, cheaper and better burners than any others in the West of England.  Superior fire-clay mixed for use.  Post-orders punctually attended to’.

In 1859 Pardoe advertised for ‘Potters, etc. Wanted, a thrower and turner; also from ten to twenty hands, at tobacco pipe making. Constant work at usual wages; but parties not connected with the union preferred. Apply at the works, St Philip’s, Bristol; or at Nantgarw Pottery, near Cardiff. Wm Henry Pardoe, proprietor’.

The directories for 1860 to 1866 listed William Henry Pardoe as a tobacco pipe and brown ware garden pot manufacturer in Avon Street, although the directory for 1861 also recorded the pottery as being run by his sons, Henry and Charles Pardoe, and that for 1863 showed it run by his sons, Charles and George Pardoe.

William Henry Pardoe died in 1867 and there are no further reference to the pottery in the directories.  In September 1875 a James Gibbs was noted as the tenant of ‘all that pottery erected and built by the said Thomas Hooper Riddle … and formerly in the occupation of Messrs Yabbicom … and [in 1848] in the occupation of William Henry Pardoe’.  There are no references to James Gibbs as a potter and he may have been carrying on some other trade on the premises.

Wares produced

Red earthenwares, including sugar moulds, chimney pots and garden pots and, under the Pardoes, clay tobacco pipes.
H & T Yabbicom and H & E Yabbicom made stonewares.

St Philip’s Pottery 4

Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed when Edward and Francis Melsom moved to the 124 Temple Street Pottery.

It is known that the pottery was in existence before September 1772 when it was advertised for sale as ‘All that pothouse, yard and buildings, situate in Avon Street … now lett to Alexander Edgar, Esq., for a term of twenty-one years, about sixteen years whereof is not to come …’.  This suggests that the pottery was let to Edgar in about 1767 although nothing else is known about Alexander Edgar.

It is known that Earl Pearce I succeeded Edgar at the pottery, having taken his freedom in 1772 and his first apprentice in the same year.  He was variously described as a potter of Bread Street and Old Market between 1773 and 1795 although an advertisement dated September 1782 places Pearce’s pottery ‘on the bank of the River Avon, in the parish of St Philip & Jacob’.

Earl Pearce I died in June 1795 and the pottery was taken over by his widow, Elizabeth, who was listed in the directories as a potter of Avon Street or Bread Street between 1797 and 1814.  Between 1797 and 1798 she seems to have been in partnership with Samuel Quarman, the firm trading as Pearce and Quarman.

In 1815 the pottery passed to her son, Colston Pearce, who was listed in the directories as a potter of Avon Street from 1815 to 1818.  It seems likely that he was in partnership with his brother, Thomas Pearce I, for some of this time as a Thomas Pearce was noted as a brown stone potter in Avon Street in 1816.

It is not known when Colston Pearce gave up running the pottery, although it is known that he continued to own a share of it, given under his father’s will, until he lost it as a result of an action brought against him in 1839 by his married sister, Hannah Wildgoose.

By 1823 the pottery had most probably been taken over by George Cox who was listed in the directories as a stoneware potter in Avon Street from 1823 until 1827.

From 1827 the pottery was being run by Edward Melsom and Francis Melsom I, who were probably brothers.  They were listed in the street directories as stoneware potters in Avon Street from 1830 until 1836.  However in an assessment carried out in 1833 Edward Melsom’s ‘dwelling house and kilns’ in Avon Street and Cheese Lane were recorded as ‘void’, suggesting that the pottery had closed by then.

Certainly it is known that Edward and Francis Melsom took over the 124 Temple Street Pottery in 1836 and the St Philip’s Pottery 4 must have ceased production and closed in 1836 at the latest.

Wares produced

From 1823 they were producing stone wares, including patent water pipes.

St Philip’s Pottery 5

Bread Street/Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed.

Records show that Samuel Sheppard worked for the Bedminster Pottery in 1788 and 1789, but by 1801 he had established his own pottery in Bread Street/Avon Street.  The directories for 1801 to 1819 listed Samuel Sheppard as a manufacturer of red and glazed wares and chimney and garden pots.

In October 1819 the St Philip’s Pottery 5 was advertised to let as ‘a stone pottery, with every requisite for immediate work, adjoining the Float [the Floating Harbour].  The premises may be applied to any other business requiring room.  Apply to Mr M. Sheppard on the premises, Avon Street’.  Presumably M. Sheppard was a mistake for S. Sheppard.  However the directories show that Samuel Sheppard continued as a ‘brown ware potter’ in Avon Street until his death in March 1824.

The pottery was then run by his wife, Mary, until 1828 when it was advertised: ‘to be let, and entered upon immediately, a red ware pottery, situate in Avon Street … and for many years carried on by Mr Samuel Sheppard, deceased. Apply to Mrs Sheppard, on the premises’.

The Sheppard family probably continued to own the pottery as William Sheppard was paying rates on the premises in 1833. However it was let to Jonathan Flood, who was then also running the Temple Back Pottery 1.  From 1829 to 1834 he was listed in the directories as a ‘red ware potter (late Sheppard)’ with premises in both Avon Street and Temple Street.

In 1834 he took over a brick and tile works on St Philip’s Marsh and the St Philip’s Pottery 5 was closed.

Wares produced

Red earthenwares, including garden pots and chimney pots.
It was referred to as a ‘stone pottery’ in 1819 suggesting that it was also producing stonewares.

St Philip’s Pottery 6

(known as the St Philip’s Marsh Pottery and the Albert Pottery)
Avon Street, St Philip’s Marsh, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The early history of this pottery is confusing and involved a number of partnerships.

The pottery closed.

John Cole I was taking apprentices from 1807, so it is possible that the pottery was operating by that date.  However, it was first listed in the directories in 1815 when it was trading as Cole & Spokes, brown stone potters in Avon Street. It is possible that the Spokes in this partnership was John Spokes I who established his own pottery in 1816 (see St Philip’s Pottery 7).

John Cole I seems to have been involved in a number of short-lived partnerships while running this pottery. There is a reference to the partnership of John Cole, John Homans Cook and John Hilhouse Wilcox, trading as Wilcox, Cook and Company, stone ware potters and manufacturers of tobacco pipes in Cheese Lane, being dissolved in December 1815.  Between 1817 and 1821 John Cole I ran the pottery, possibly in partnership with someone called ‘Campbell’, as a partnership between them was dissolved in 1821.   The directory of 1825 recorded Cole and Pearce (possibly Colston Pearce) as brown ware potters in Avon Street.

In September 1825 the auction of the pottery was advertised and was described as ‘A small and convenient stone and brown ware pottery, with a yard, two kilns, small dwelling house, and other suitable buildings, now in the occupation of Mr Coles, as yearly tenant. These premises … have a frontage of 108 feet and are in depth on the northward side, 40 feet and on the southward side 54 feet’.  The pottery was again advertised for sale by auction in January 1830 when it was described as ‘A small and convenient stone and brown ware pottery, with a yard, two kilns, small dwelling house, and other suitable buildings, now in the occupation of Mr John Coles, as yearly tenant … situated near the bridge over the Feeder, at the bottom of Cheese Lane … and are within a short distance of the new Cattle Market’.

The pottery was advertised to let in March 1832 but John Cole I continued to work there, the directories showing him as a brown stone and red ware potter.  He exported stoneware to Guernsey and Jersey between 1832 and 1835 and in 1833 he paid duty of £2.8s.9d on his manufacture of stone bottles.

It is possible that he died in 1835 as the directories for 1836 to 1855 listed his wife, Frances, as running the pottery and taking an apprentice in 1838.  The 1841 census gave the address of the pottery as 4 Marsh Buildings, St Philip’s Marsh.  Between 1836 and 1849 Frances was described as a brown stone and redware potter, but from 1850 she was also producing bricks and tiles.

Frances Cole, of the ‘St Philip’s Marsh Pottery’, died in August 1855 at the age of 80 and the pottery was taken over by her son, Thomas Homans Cole.  In August 1857 he advertised to ‘Liquor merchants, nurserymen, builders and others. Albert Pottery … Thomas Cole returns his sincere thanks to his friends and the public for the many favours they have bestowed upon him for the last two years, and begs to inform them that, in addition to all kinds of brown ware, he has entered upon the improved stone, which he can supply cheaper than any firm in the West of England’.  The census of 1861 recorded him as a master potter employing 7 men and 3 boys.

From 1858 until 1865 he was listed in the directories as a ‘brown and red ware potter, improved highly glazed stoneware, brick and tile maker’, but from 1866 the ‘improved highly glazed stoneware’ was omitted, suggesting perhaps that he no longer made that type of ware.

Thomas Cole died in October 1867 and the pottery was taken over by his widow, Lavinia.  She was listed in the directories as a ‘brown and red ware potter, garden pot manufacturer, and brick and tile maker’.  In October 1869 Lavinia married Joseph Rowland Hands and they then ran the pottery together.   In the 1871 census Lavinia was employing 6 men and 2 boys.

Lavinia died in November 1871 and the pottery continued to be operated by Joseph Hands, although he was probably running the pottery down, as various advertisements appeared in newspapers in 1873 and 1874 offering damaged chimney pots and caps, carpenters’ benches, a turner’s lathe and a cart horse for sale cheaply.

In January and May 1873 the pottery was advertised for sale: ‘Old established redware pottery business to be disposed of, with every requisite, in full working order. Proof of trade. Stock at valuation. Satisfactory reason for sale’.   Joseph Hands moved to Liverpool and the pottery was probably sold in 1873 or 1874.

By 1877 the pottery was being run by John Forward Moorse, trading as the Albert Pottery Company. The pottery was advertised for sale by auction in August 1878 when it was described as: ‘Valuable freehold pottery, with residence, stabling, yard, and premises in Albert Road, St Philip’s Marsh … All that spacious and convenient manufactory, formerly known as Cole’s Pottery, but now as the Albert Pottery, with good residence, stabling, yard and premises, situate in Albert Road, St Philip’s Marsh, close to the Marsh Bridge, and very near the stations and goods departments of the different railways and barge depots.  These premises have been used as a red and stone ware pottery for a great many years; they have a frontage in Albert Road of 185 feet and a depth of 55 feet 6 inches or thereabouts, and comprise one stone and two red ware kilns, pug and lead mills, three working mills, stove, drying racks and stages, sheds and store rooms, all well lighted. There is a good yard with double doors, stabling for two horses with loft over, cart and straw house, manure pit, etc. There is also a comfortable brick-fronted dwelling-house, comprising two parlours, two bedrooms, kitchen, scullery, pantry, w.c., and minor offices, with vinery and conservatory in front.  Gas pipes are laid throughout the works.  The entire premises are now let at the very moderate ground rental of £80 per year, and are subject only to a small ground rent of £10 per annum.  Possession may be had on the 29 September next if desired’.

The pottery was offered for sale or let again in October 1878 and in May 1880 but it continued to operate, producing all kinds of flower and garden pots, including rhubarb pots.  In 1901 John Moorse was described as a ‘flower pot manufacturer’ and at that time he was being assisted in the pottery by his son Walter John Moorse, a ‘pottery worker’ and his daughter Kate, a ‘pottery clerk’.  Rhubarb pots were again advertised for sale in December 1904.

John Moorse died in April 1908 and the pottery was taken over by his son, Walter John Moorse, whose occupation was described as ‘red ware pottery manufacture, employer’ in 1911. His sister Ada was a ‘clerk, assisting brother’ so she was also involved in running the pottery.  Kelly’s directory of 1914 recorded Walter Moorse at the Albert Pottery in Victoria Terrace, St Philip’s Marsh.

In December 1928 the following advertisement appeared in the Western Daily Press: ‘W.J. Moorse, Albert Pottery, St Philip’s Marsh, Bristol. Established 1801. Manufacturers of red glazed ware. Washing pans. Bread pans. Rhubarb pots with cover 3s.6d. Seakale pots with cover 3s.6d. Chimney pots. Garden pots. Garden rustic vase 7s.6d. All in stock’.  He continued advertising garden pots and rhubarb and seakale pots until his death in July 1934, when he was described as of 19 Kensington Park Road and the Albert Pottery.

His sister Ada carried on running the pottery until November 1940 when it was advertised for sale or to let as: ‘warehouse premises at St Philip’s (formerly Albert Potteries).  Large yard of 7,000 square feet with various single and two floor buildings.  Electricity’.  It seems that the pottery had closed before it was advertised for sale, although it is known from the following newspaper report that it was still in operation in 1939.  The Evening Post for July 1997 published a letter from an L.M. Ingram (possibly the Louise Maud Ingram who was born in 1907 and who had a brother Joseph A. Ingram, born in 1912).  In this she stated that she ‘had a brother who worked at St Philip’s pottery until he was called up during the Second World War.  At this time it was being run by Mr John Moorse and his sister Ada [this is probably a mistake, as Walter John Moorse had died in 1934], and I often watched my brother at work. The pottery itself was a very old building.  You entered through huge wooden doors, and the inside of the walkway was covered with cobble stones.  The right side was occupied by stables and a horse used to haul clay from the pit in a field at the back of Meriton Street.  It must be at least 70 years ago, when I would stand and be mesmerised to see all sizes of pots and huge bread pans, complete with covers, emerge from lumps of clay.  The potter’s wheel was mounted on some sort of wooden platform and was driven by a belt, worked by my brother using a treadle.  No way could I stand near the kiln because of the terrific heat.  I can’t recall how the pots obtained their lovely terracotta glaze’ (information from John Bryant).

Ada Moorse died in 1948.

Wares produced

Red earthenwares, including flower and garden pots, including rhubarb and seakale pots and rustic vases, washing pans, bread pans, chimney pots and bricks and tiles.
Improved highly glazed stonewares.

St Philip’s Pottery 7

(known as the Avon Street Pottery, the St Philip’s Pottery and the Avonside Pottery)
North of railway bridge, between 21 and 22 Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed.

John Spokes I is first recorded as a brown stone potter in Avon Street in 1816, when he appears to have been in partnership with someone called ‘Bourne’.  However from 1817 to 1844 he was working on his own.  In 1833 he was paying rates of £8 on his pottery in ‘Cheese Lane & Avon Street’ and in 1836 his property was described as ‘tenement, garden, tobacco pipe manufactory and pottery’.  The 1841 census also recorded him, aged 60, as a potter in Avon Street and the 1851 census as a potter living at ‘1 Avon Street Pottery’, which was located between 21 and 22 Avon Street.

From 1844 to 1847 John Spokes I was in partnership with his son, Samuel, while Samuel was working alone as a ‘brown and stone ware potter’ at the pottery in 1848, presumably after the retirement of his father.

In 1849 the pottery was taken over by John Thomas Spokes I, who was also the son of John Spokes I.  In the 1851 census he was living next to his parents and brother Samuel, who was then a pauper, at ‘2 Avon Street Pottery’.  From 1849 to 1863 he was recorded as either a brown ware potter or a brown stone potter.  In November 1861 the pottery was advertised to be let or sold and was described as ‘the old established freehold redware pottery, situated near the railway arch, Avon Street … The stock and plant to be taken at a fair valuation.  For further particulars apply to John Spokes on the premises’.

However the pottery continued to operate under John Thomas Spokes I, who was noted as ‘many years master of the redware pottery’ on his death in April 1863.  The pottery was taken over by his widow, Sarah, who was listed as a brown ware potter in Avon Street from 1863 to 1871.  In June 1869 she attempted to dispose of the premises described as ‘an extensive pottery business, together with large buildings, outhouse, stables and yard, situate in a business locality, and where a large trade has been successfully carried out for more than fifty years. The above would be a first class investment for anyone possessed of energy and pushing habits. For particulars apply to S. Spokes, Avon Street Pottery …’.

Sarah continued running the pottery until 1871 and she was noted in the 1871 census return as a redware potter living with her step-son, John, ‘north of railway bridge, Avon Street’.  From 1872 the pottery was being operated by John Thomas Spokes II who advertised for redware potters, a redware burner and small ware potters to work at the ‘St Philip’s Pottery’ in 1874, 1882 and 1886.  In 1886 he was advertising for sale ‘garden pots and red ware, all kinds of vases for painting at J.T. Spokes’ Pottery, Avon Street’.

In about 1886 Spokes became an earthenware dealer and the pottery was taken over by the firm of Cooper and Company.   In 1887 they advertised for sale ‘flower pots, rhubarb and seakale pots from one dozen to 50,000 [at] The oldest redware establishment in the west of England. Avonside Pottery, Avon Street’.

In 1890 the pottery was acquired by the Great Western Railway for the extension of the Bristol Joint Station and in May the contents were offered for sale by auction and described as the ‘whole of the stock of redware pottery, comprising flower pots (plain and ornamental) in all sizes, rustic garden vases, chimney pots and caps, rhubarb and seakale pots, garden vases, etc., red glazed ware, sundry vases for painting, etc., a quantity of timber and sundry potter’s appliances. Also two spring carts, coal cart, hand-cart, wheelbarrows, etc, three sets of cart harness and … a capital bay mare … ‘.

In June 1890 the pottery itself was advertised for sale by auction when it was described as ‘various buildings, forming the Avonside Pottery, including the two kilns (to come down), the horizontal engine and boiler, clay mill, potters’ wheels, heating apparatus, wrought iron tack, lead mill, kiln bands, etc. The whole will have to be cleared within ten days of the sale’.

Wares produced

Red earthenwares including flower pots, garden vases, rhubarb and seakale pots, chimney pots and caps, and vases for painting.

St Philip’s Pottery 8

St Philip’s Marsh, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed.

From 1821 to 1826 John Oland was listed in the directories as a brown stone potter or stoneware manufacturer of St Philip’s Marsh.  The Port Books for 1821 to 1823 recorded him exporting earthenware and stoneware to Quebec and Jamaica.

There is a suggestion that he was to be made bankrupt in 1823 but he appears to have avoided this, possibly by going into partnership with someone called ‘Boddington’.   However, Boddington and Oland, potters of St Philip’s Marsh were declared bankrupt in 1825 and the pottery was advertised as for sale by auction in September 1825:
‘A valuable stoneware pottery, with yard, 2 kilns, drying rooms, ware rooms, and other suitable and convenient outbuildings; together with a newly erected, substantial and roomy dwelling-house, adjoining thereto, with a large garden attached, now and for some time past in the occupation of Mr John Oland, as yearly tenant.  These premises occupy a frontage of 206 feet, and are in depth on the northward part 64 feet, and on the southward 60 feet; the late proprietor has expended within the last few years the sum of £1500 in the various above-mentioned erections. NB The purchaser of this lot may be accommodated with the fixtures and stock of clay, now on the premises, at a fair valuation, by which the pottery may be set to work at a small expense’.

There is no evidence that the pottery continued after its sale in 1825.

Wares produced

The directories recorded him as producing stoneware.  The Port Books refer to earthenware and stoneware.

St Philip’s Pottery 9

(known as the Avon Cottage Pottery)
Albert Road, St Philip’s Marsh, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed.

William Rich was first recorded in the directories as a drain pipe and fire brick maker in 1850, although he could have been operating the pottery at an earlier date.  In the 1841 and 1851 censuses his occupation was given as ‘brick maker’, while the 1861 census showed him as a pipe maker, employing 7 men and 2 boys, and the 1871 census as a drain pipe manufacturer.

William Rich died in June 1872 and the pottery was taken over by his grandson, John.  From 1876 to 1879 the firm traded as John Rich and Boon.  The ‘Boon’ in this partnership was probably John Boon, an ironmonger, who was one of the executor’s of William Rich’s will.

The pottery was advertised for sale in July 1878 when it was described as ‘Avon Cottage Pottery, St Philip’s Marsh, Bristol. Messrs Tricks, Sons & Co. are instructed by the trustees of the late Mr W.P. Rich to sell by auction, on the premises … the whole of the machinery, plant, and stock-in-trade of a drain pipe and fire brick pottery; and comprising 10 horse power engine, egg-end boiler, runners, pug mill, pipe machine, moulds of all descriptions, tiles, fire bricks, burrs, drain pipes, ejects, junctions, chimney pots and the usual materials used in the above mentioned business. Also a useful horse and tip cart’.

The directories show that from 1880 to 1883 the pottery was being run by Mrs Rich, possibly Ann, the wife of John Rich.  Meanwhile John Rich was shown in the 1881 census as a ‘drain pipe maker, unemployed’.

The pottery closed in 1883 or 1884 and was probably the pottery advertised in April 1884: ‘To manufacturers of drain pipes, pottery and terra-cotta goods. To be let or sold, 11 acres of first class clay, with two kilns, sheds and cottage thereon, together with plant and machinery for brick, tile and pipe working. Moderate and convenient terms to responsible party’.

Wares produced

Stoneware drain pipes, fire bricks and chimney pots.

St Philip’s Pottery 10

4 Avon Street, St Philip and Jacob parish.

Summary of operating dates and proprietors

The pottery closed.

Little is known about this pottery.  The directories listed George Ring as a potter in Avon Street, or at 4 Avon Street, from 1870 to 1879. The 1881 census return showed him as a ‘potter employer’ at 4 Avon Street.

Wares produced

Not known.