The business of Lipscombe & Co. was going very well – enough that it was expanded by building the pottery at Brampton.
London Pottery, Brampton
Above, on the left, is a close up taken from a map c1870's; above, on the right, is a map of 1898.
Below are then & now maps of the position of the pottery. c/o maps.nls.uk/geo/explore
Built by Messrs. Frederick Lipscombe & Co. of London in 1866 to produce water filters. It was sold to James Pearson in 1888.
Ronald Brown: “Mr. Lipscombe established himself as a water filter manufacturer in London in 1794.....”
The business of Lipscombe & Co. was carried on by the Lipscombe family; & the manufacture, & selling, of Water Filters was a family trade. John Lipscombe & sons James & Frederick were based in London & John junr. was based in Manchester, Lancs.
This is a part of the family tree that has a connection to the London Pottery, Chesterfield.
Water tasted terrible & was full of impurities so filters were a 'must' if people didn't want to be ill all the time.
The
1851 census shows Frederick Lipscombe living in Hampstead, Middlesex with his wife Sarah & children Frederick Rogers & Ellen Rogers Lipscombe. Frederick is a water filter maker employing 7 men. All the children of Frederick & Sarah had the middle name of Rogers, Sarah's maiden name, & lived to marry, except Louisa who was born in 1851 & died on the
9th February 1887 at Hastings. Frederick married Sarah Rogers in
1847 in the district of Newport Pagnell.
His brother James was living at 93 Regent Street with his wife & family: He'd been living there on the 1841 census with an Ann Lipscombe aged 52yrs. On both census' he was a filter manufacturer. James had married Ann Dixey in 1848, the daughter of George Dixey, gentleman.
Frederick & James' brother John had moved to Manchester, Lancs. by 1851 after marrying Frances Dixey in the June ¼ of
1844 at Westminster. Frances was very probably the sister of Ann Dixey.
Ronald Brown:…..."at the Great Exhibition of 1851, F. Lipscombe, 233 The Strand, London exhibited two portable fountains and two scent jars......"
The Times, June 23rd 1851
WATER FILTERS.- “Dr. Holland has taken a great deal of trouble in making himself acquainted with the various methods adopted for purifying water. The results of his experiments is that the PATENT SELF-CLEANSING FILTERS made by Messrs. Lipscombe, of Temple-bar, are the most durable and produce purer and more wholesome water than any other description of filter, and well sustain the high reputation of the Messrs. Lipscombe as filter manufacturers. They are at perfect liberty to make use of this testimonial in any way they please.”
Lipscombe and Co., filter manufacturers to the Queen, beg to intimate that their Patent Self-Cleaning Filters, from 3s. 6d. each, can only be had at their establishment, Temple-bar, London. Packing baskets 1s. Each. Prospectuses forwarded free.
Frederick, James & John were still manufacturing & selling water filters & fountains in 1861.
James died in 1862, aged 47, & his widow took over as 'filter maker' as stated on the1871census, but was living on her 'own means' on later census'.
John died in 1866, aged 57, & his wife took over as water filter manufacturer as stated on the1871,81&91census'.
Derbyshire Courier, Saturday 6th October 1866
DISTRICT NEWS
BRAMPTON.
THE NEW POTTERY.-- The new pottery at Brampton, of which we have before given a notice, is rapidly pro-gressing towards completion.
The owner is Mr. Frederick Lipscombe, of London, and it will be called the London Pottery.
About 150 hands will be employed, chiefly in man-ufacturing filters from ten gallons downwards. It will no doubt be the largest pottery near Chesterfield, and as the management is in the hands of a gentleman well ac-quainted with the trade, it will be one of the best managed in the district. Mr. Henry Gibbons (the manager) is very desirous to make the place as comfortable and convenient for the men he employs as he possibly can, and those who are fortunate enough to be employed on the works will be treated, and also, well paid. We understand that kilns equal to the size of twelve Chesterfield kilns will be erected.
Derbyshire Courier, Saturday 6th October 1866
FOR SALE, a Quantity of good RED BRICK CLAY and SOIL, at 3d per load, at the London Pottery. Walton.- Apply to HENRY GIBBONS.
Derbyshire Courier, Saturday 27th October 1866
POTTERS WANTED.
WANTED, THROWERS who can make FILTERS, all sizes, as high as 10 gallons; also TURNERS that are accustomed to Filters; a quantity of PRESSERS that are used to Filters; also a number of HANDS of all descriptions, such as are used to a Pottery. Steady men only required. None need apply that will neglect work through misconduct. Good wages can be earned, as Filters will be the principal employment.
Apply to HENRY GIBSON, Manager, London Pottery, Brampton.
Frederick Lipscombe was alive & living at Regent's Park Terrace, Marylebone, with his wife & family on the1871census, still a Water Filter Maker. His son Henry Rogers Lipscombe is 'assistant to father'.
Derbyshire Times Wednesday 14th October 1874
TO BUILDERS AND OTHERS.
THE LONDON POTTERIES CO.
Beg respectfully to announce that they have commenced the Manufacture of
CHIMNEY POTS OF ALL KINDS.
ALSO GARDEN EDGING, VASES, AND ALL KINDS OF
T E R R A C O T T A W A R E
The LONDON POTTERIES CO. have now a stock of all the ordinary kinds of Chimney Pots on hand for Customers to select from, and orders for Special Patterns from Architect's own designs will be executed at the shortest notice.
PRICE LISTS SENT ON APPLICATION
London Potteries, Chesterfield, August 25th, 1874
By the1881census Frederick senr. was employing 57 men; he & his sons Henry & Frederick jnr. were all water filter manufacturers.
Derbyshire Times Saturday 25th June 1881 Hard Labour for Pottery Theft.
THEFT OF TERRACOTTA.- Benjamin Williams, labourer, who said he came from Staffordshire, was brought up charged with having stolen 3 terracotta figures value £1. 17s. ? from Lipscomb's potteries, at Brampton the previous night.
P.c. Curtis said that about a quarter past eleven he met prisoner not 20 yards from the works with a bag containing the figures on his shoulder. Witness stopped & searched him and took the figures & prisoner to the manager, Mr Clark, who identified them as having been stolen.
The manager said that of late they had been making designs at great expense & on the completion they were hung outside the building so that the effect might be seen. Frequently the models had been stolen, & in all probability used by other firms, for recasting, thus injuring Mr Lipscombe seriously.
Prisoner who pleaded guilty was sentenced to six weeks hard labour.
On the 18th September 1882, in Putney, Surrey, Frederick Lips-combe died aged 65yrs. The final amount of his personal effects was £14, 369 10s. 6d.
In his will he left his business to his widow & children. Frederick's widow Sarah later died on the 23rd April 1885, aged 65yrs.
It was agreed that Frederick's sons Henry Rogers Lipscombe & Frederick Rogers Lipscombe would buy out the others & continue to run the business.
Their sisters Mrs. Alexander Knight [nee Josephine R. Lipscombe), & Mrs. John Dunn (nee Ellen R. Lipscombe), would each leave £3,000 in the business, (the value of their shares), until a later date, & received joint & several promissory notes from Henry & Frederick.
On
June 4th 1886 the partnership between the brothers, Henry & Frederick, was dissolved, & negotiations began as to the disposal of the company, or converting it into a limited company. Then, on
10th August 1886, Mr. Knight & Mr. Dunn, (both brothers in law), began proceedings against Henry & Frederick regarding the payment of the debt on two promissory notes; & later obtained a judgement on
August 30th in default of Henry's appearance.
Bankruptcy proceedings began on
September 9th but were halted when negotiations as to the running, & continuing, of the business were made. Unfortunately the talks failed & in
January 1887 a bankruptcy petition was presented by Mr.
Knight to Henry R. Lipscombe; & on
February 11th 1887 there was a receiving order made against him.
Henry went to the Court of Appeal on
February 25th where his Council argued that the proceedings in bankruptcy were oppressive & used for the purpose of compelling the debtor to sell the business in unfavourable terms; & he also
asked for more time for the debt to be paid.
The Court dismissed the appeal & said there was no grounds for it. The debtor, Henry R. Lipscombe, & his brother,
owed the money & did not pay it back so proceedings had to be made.
….. & so London Pottery was sold to pay debts; & James Pearson bought it.
Derbyshire Times Saturday 27th October 1888
Sale of the Lipscombe & Co. Pottery.
TO BE SOLD.
The well-known FREEHOLD FILTER WORKS and POTTERY belonging to Frederick Lipscombe & Co., of 233, Strand, London, and situate at Brampton, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
The property consists of the Works and Three Acres of Land, Rich in Clay.
The Firm, for many years, have Manufactured at these Works their Stone Ware, Filters, and General Bristol Ware; in addition to which the celebrated Chesterfield Brown and stone Ware can, if desired, be made.
The district is rich in suitable Clay, with which Coal can be obtained, comparing favourably with other districts.
An arrangement can be made to take over the Wholesale Filter and Pottery connection of the firm. Apply for further particulars, to
C.H. JOHNSON,
Estate Agent,
1 St. James' Street, Sheffield
James Pearson bought the London Pottery & linked it to the Oldfield Pottery by a railway line. He had previously bought the Oldfield Pottery in
1884.
The 1891 Census states that Henry & Frederick were still water filter manufacturers; & the business went on as there are later adverts proclaiming a 'new filter' by Lipscombe & Co. in the 1890's.
James Pearson, his wife Harriet, & mother in law Christiana Towlson, are living in the Manor House, Brampton.
Working in a clay pit was very dangerous:
Friday 5th May 1905
sees the death of James Pearson & another bench mark of the potteries history.
James Pearson died after a short illness & was interred in the Churchyard at Old Brampton on the 8th. In his will, dated
15 February 1896, he leaves,
"all my real and personal estate of every description unto my dear wife Harriet Helen Pearson absolutely". The Will was proved
3rd July 1905. One of the witnesses to his Will being James Anderson Goodfellow, of Old Road, Chesterfield, Physician & Surgeon.
Harriet Helen Pearson [nee Towlson] widow of James, later marries James Anderson Goodfellow, M.B., C.A. on
January 29th 1907 at St. Peter's Church, Barrowden, Stamford.James runs the businesses for Harriet.
Also in 1907:
2nd April 1911 sees Harriet Helen & husband James Anderson Goodfellow living at Grove House, Ashover, near Chesterfield. James is a 'medical practitioner', although by then he had given up practice & was in bad health. With them is Doris Christine Pearson, Harriet's daughter by James Pearson, & Harriet's son by James, James Alan Pearson, is away at preparatory school in Worcestershire.
More incidents at the Pottery: Theft & a fatality...
Military Service Act 1916. Conscription.
The Government introduced the Military Service Act on 27 January 1916. All voluntary enlistment was stopped. All British males were now deemed to have enlisted on 2 March 1916 if they were aged between 19 and 41 and resided in Great Britain (excluding Ireland) and were unmarried or a widower on 2 November 1915. Conscripted men were no longer given a choice of which service, regiment or unit they joined, although if a man preferred the navy it got priority to take him. This act was extended to married men, and the lower age dropped to 18, on 25 May 1916.
Employers were to keep registers or information on their employees: This included Messrs Pearson & Co. Whittington Moor & James Pearson Ltd., Brampton, potteries.
This is a register of all male employees over 16 years of age at James Pearson Ltd.
There are more details I haven't written to be found in the Local Studies Library, Chesterfield.
Vandalism a strike & a works' shutdown didn't bode well for the pottery in the next few years...
Derbyshire Courier, Saturday 24th August 1918
IN THE CLAY HOLE.
WARNING TO TRESPASSERS AT BRAMPTON.
A good deal of wanton damage has been committed on the premises of Messrs. James Pearson, Ltd., pottery manufacturers, Brampton; & at the Chesterfield Borough Court, on Monday, three youths were summoned for damaging a clay-hole to the amount of 5s. The defendants were Alfred Smith, 31 Shepley Street; James Collins, 11 Factory Street; & Albert Hill, 59 Shepley Street.
Mr. J. A. Hopkins prosecuted, & explained that so much damage had been done that the firm had been compelled to institute proceedings. Besides the damage in the clay-hole, youths had been found on the roof of the premises, & windows had been broken & lead removed.
George Lander, foreman at the London Pottery, said that on 8th August he found Smith 'holing' with a pick in the clay-hole, & about a ton of clay was ready to fall when rain came. It would be necessary to remove the loose clay before brick making could be resumed. Smith said the pick belonged to Hill, & Collins was looking on.
Collins said they did not think they were doing any harm. Scores of people were there every night, & nothing was said to them. Hill, who did not appear,was fined 15s., & Smith & Collins has each 12s. 6d. to pay. Ald. G. A. Eastwood gave warning that any future cases of trespass would be very smartly dealt with.
Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 27th February 1930
£2,000 Damage at Pottery Works
A disastrous fire broke out yesterday at the London Pottery, Goyt Side, Brampton, of Messrs. J. Pearson Ltd., Chesterfield, damage being done to the extent of £2,000. This was covered by insurance. When the Borough Brigade arrived the flames, 20ft. high, were leaping into the air from a shed used as a warehouse & for packing purposes.
The roof was a mass of flames, which burned with such fury that it was 2 hours before the fire was mastered.
A second engine was sent for, & but for the effective work of the brigade the fire would have undoubtedly spread to the adjoining works. Two railway wagons were damaged by the flames.
A fireman, A.C. Abbott, had to be treated for a crushed foot.
Ronald Brown: Products: “Water filters in all sizes, marked with their trademark LIPSCOMBE & CO., brownware and stone bottles. They made a doorstop in the form of an Old English Mastiff, seated on its haunches, marked on the base, and a glazed stoneware bust of a woman is also known.”
End