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The
introduction of flint mills; development of Potworks |
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Source:
"The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent" John Ward, 1843 |
The
introduction of flint-mills:
"..when
Mr. Astbury tried his experiments, the flints, being calcined, were pounded in
an iron mortar, until perfectly levigated; … when the use of Flint became
more common, this tedious process would no longer suffice, and the ingenious
Brindley, (whose original occupation was that of a millwright), erected a
windmill at Burslem, for the purpose of grinding the calcined flint in a dry
state; and also adapted some neighbouring water-mills to the same purpose.
It
was not, we think, until about the time of Mr. Wedgwood settling at Etruria,
that the practice commenced of grinding the flint mixed with water; for which
suggestion it is said the Trade was indebted to an ingenious plumber and
glazier, named Bedson.
As
flint became afterwards so largely in use, not only did Mr. Wedgwood erect a
steam-mill for stamping and grinding it, but almost all the neighbouring
flourmills, worked by water, were put in requisition to meet the increasing
demand…. of flint, Cornish-stone and other vitreous substances… which are
compounded in the clays .. or used as glazes to give them lustre."
Development of Potworks:
"We
have described a primitive Potwork, such as commonly existed within a century
past. Now our Potworks exhibit a very altered character, and some of the
larger manufactories present such an extensive and imposing group….
…
a large "Workhouse bank", presents a quadrangle of lofty warehouses,
and workrooms, with intermediate ranges, dividing the space into several
areas, - a cluster, or row, of towering hovels,
tapering upwards like Egyptian Pyramids, or with embattled tops, realising the
picture of a large fortification; a loft chimney resembling a Pharos, except
that one sent forth brilliant streams of light, and the other emits dense
clouds of smoke.
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