Stourbridge Fireclays and the Manufacture of Glass-house Pots

JSGT 1927 V11 T400-T406

 In this district, the fireclay industry appears to have originated in the 16th century, in the neighbourhood of Stourbridge, on the southwestern borders of the South Staffordshire coalfield. According to local tradition, it was introduced about 1556 by some refugee Hungarian glass-makers, who found that the fireclays in the local coal measures were such as they needed for their melting-pots. It was not, however, until 1786 that the use of fireclay received any serious attention. At that time the known area was about 200 acres, whilst the principal makers of fireclay goods were Hickman, Waldron, Lord Foley, and Lord Dudley. The clay then fetched 34-s. a ton delivered at Stourport, whence it was sent to Bristol for export to all parts of the world.

M. H. Edwards