The Broseley Local History Society

 

Incorporating the Wilkinson Society

 

Newsletter                                                                     May 2001

 

Chairman:                  Frank Selkirk

Secretary:                 Dot Cox

Treasurer:                 Steve Dewhirst

Curator:                    David Lake

Membership Sec.:                  Janet Robinson, 26 Coalport Road,

                                Broseley, Shropshire, TF12 5AZ.

                                01952 882495

Journal Editor                Neil Clarke

Newsletter Editor:                  Nick Coppin, 01952 884398

 

Meetings usually take place each month on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm (unless announced otherwise).  Please ensure you are in your seats by 7.30 to allow speakers a prompt start.  Indoor meetings will be held at the Broseley Social Club in the High Street unless announced otherwise. Car parking at the back.

 

Web Site: www.Broseley.org.uk               Email: steve@broseley.org.uk

 

Programme for 2001:

Wednesday 6th June:        Emigration from the Broseley District to North America by Donald Harris.  The original talk was cancelled due to the November Floods (see Society web site for photos).   The Annual Wilkinson Lecture: Cultural Influences in the Life of John Wilkinson by Diana Clark will be re-scheduled in the new programme.

Wednesday 4th July:        Walk around Caughley led by Stephen Perry.
7:30 at the weighbridge - Caughley.  (Take the left turn opposite Dean Farm on the Broseley-Bridgnorth Road, by the sign for Parkhill Estates. The weighbridge is on the left about ½ mile up the single track road)

No August meeting.

Wednesday 5th September:                        Memories of Old Broseley

Wednesday 3rd October:        Shropshire Lych gates (focussing on the Broseley are) by Ron Penhalluric.

Wednesday 7th November:        Local 18th Century ironmasters including John Onions of Broseley and John Wilkinson’s Snedshill partners by Paul Luter.

Wednesday 5th December:                        Christmas Dinner; details to follow.

 

For further information, contact Neil Clarke (01952 504135)

 

Photo from last newsletter.

This has been identified by Jack Owen as being located in Legges Hill.

Republishing ‘John Wilkinson’

‘John Wilkinson, Ironmaster of Broseley’ took pride in his association with the town.   Equally, we take pride in our association with a great man and are wishing to republish the excellent short biography of him by Ron Davies of Bradley.

£600 is needed to cover a new edition of 200 copies and it does not seem appropriate to take this entirely from Society funds.  In John Wilkinson’s day a new project could be funded by a Company of Adventurers, each taking one or more shares in the company capital.  So we propose to offer 12 shares of £50 to the adventurous amongst our membership with the chance of a profit depending of course on sales.  If you could be interested in sharing in this venture to commemorate Broseley’s great ironmaster, please ring me on 01746 762813.

Meanwhile to get the presses rolling, Jack Owen and I and the Society will each put up £200.

We look forward to hearing from you!

David Lake, Hon Curator

 

Salopian Pottery

On behalf of the owner, Society member, Stephen Perry, is trying to identify a plain stoneware jug, about 7 inches high, with an impressed mark on the base reading “Jackfield Co. Salopian”!!

This mark is not mentioned in any reference books, nor can the ‘experts’ identify it. The ‘Salopian’ mark, on its own, can be found on some rare items of Caughley porcelain, and also on earthenware made between c. 1882 and c. 1912 by the Salopian Art Pottery Co. of Benthall, but the ‘Jackfield Co.’ reference is puzzling!

The owner, who bought the piece from a London dealer for a high price, thinks the shape dates to around 1800, but the body is so clean and perfect, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was a modern reproduction - though he would be very disappointed!!

Tony Mugridge has suggested a date of around 1920, from the ‘Pittsyard’ pottery, otherwise known as Woolfson (“the Jews”) and Rowe, in Bridge Road, by the New Inn, but Kate Clark’s book states they operated the ‘Salop Pottery’. An alternative possibility is the Pitchyard Pottery, at nearby Spout Lane, which, according to Richard Hayman’s book is “thought to have begun in the eighteenth century” and “may have been run by William Lloyd of Pitchyard House and his widow, from before 1814 until at least 1830”? This would fit better with the-date the owner would like this jug to be!

Do any members have any pottery with this “Jackfield Co. Salopian?’ mark? You may need to raid your attics - but pieces would appear to be very rare and potentially very valuable! Does anyone have any information about either the Pittsyard or Pitchyard potteries and their products, or possibly the location of their waste dumps?

The Society apparently once had a pair of goblets with this mark, which have ‘disappeared.’ Does anyone know the present whereabouts of these goblets?

If anyone has any information at all, I would be grateful if they would contact me at:

8 Laburnum Drive, Madeley, TELFORD TF7 5SE, or phone 01952 561954.