2012/390

Ltd Clarence Potteries Co. (Maker)

This is a stoneware brewery jar used for storing beer. It was made by Clarence Potteries Co., Ltd. in Stockton-on-Tees, who stamped their insignia into the jar next to the handle, and used by Pickup Bros. botanical brewery in Spennymoor, County Durham. Inscribed in transfer print on the side of the jar are the words 'PICKUP BROS. BOTANICAL BREWERS LOW GRANGE ROAD SPENNYMOOR This Bottle is the Property of PICKUP BROS. any person using or detaining same will be prosecuted Please insert stopper when empty. 1932'. The jar was offered to MERL by Peter Godwin, the Head Gardener at Aske Hall in Richmond, North Yorkshire, which is part of the Zetland estates owned by the Marquis of Zetland. Mr Godwin was involved in a house clearance in 2012 at one of the two estate properties at Olliver Cottages East and saved this jar together with a hot water bottle identical to another held by MERL (object number 70/108) and a carpet stretcher. Mr Godwin offered all three objects for donation to MERL, but as the Museum already holds identical or very similar objects to the hot water bottle and carpet stretcher, these two were declined.

1 jar: stoneware; good condition

Email, Claire Smith from MERL to Isabel Hughes and Oliver Douglas from MERL, 22 July 2012 - 'We had a family in at the weekend who have donated three objects to us. They're a stoneware bottle, a ceramic hot water bottle, and a carpet stretching tool. They're on the front desk, if you'd like to come and have a look at them! // I did explain that we don't normally accept impromptu donations, but they couldn't be persuaded to take them away. I did get their verbal permission for us to dispose of the items if we don't need them. // Their contact details are: // Mrs Naomi Size // [...] // If you don't need the hot water bottle, I was wondering whether it might make a good addition to the Education collection? It would be quite nice for us to use for the schools materials sessions, in contrast to a modern rubber hot water bottle.', Letter, MERL to Naomi Size, 24 August 2012 – 'Dear Mrs Size, // I am writing with regards the three artefacts offered for donation by Peter Godwin. // It is unfortunately not possible for the Museum to accept the carpet stretcher (MERL already has many examples of these) or the ceramic hot water bottle (MERL 70/108 is identical in form). // As for the stoneware brewery jar, having consulted colleagues at Beamish Museum and elsewhere I have been unable to locate a matching example within a Museum. As such, I'd be keen to acquire this object for the MERL collection. It will complement similar items already housed here and help bolster our coverage of the northern counties. // I enclose a Museum Object Entry Form and I would be grateful if you could sign and date this in the two places indicated, returning the white and blue copies to me and retaining the pink copy for your own records. // Best wishes and many thanks, // Dr Oliver Douglas // Assistant Curator', MERL miscellaneous note – 'Artefacts offered for donation by Peter Godwin, Head Gardener at Aske, North Yorkshire, which is part of the Zetland Estates, as owned by the Marquis of Zetland. Earlier this year Mr Godwin was involved in a house clearance at one of the two Estate properties at Olliver Cottages East and rescued these three items. // To see them see images on M-Drive at: M:\Object Collections\Collections Management\Possible acquisitions\2012\Peter Godwin - Misc artefacts: // Carpet stretcher - we have at least three comparable artefacts (MERL, 60/423, 62/342, 62/477); NO // Hot water bottle - we have an identical artefact (MERL 70/108); NO // Stoneware brewery jar - we have various similar artefacts but few items from this regions - Seb Littlewood at Beamish confirms they do not have an example of this jar - YES', Information regarding various Stockton bottles from the collection of Martin Dunnill (http://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/stockton-bottles/, website administered by Stockton Library Service, accessed by MERL on 19/07/2013) - 'Martin Dunnill on August 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm said: // The Clarence Potteries Company Ltd was established in 1877. They took over the ownership of a pottery, off Norton Road, built by Thomas Harwood in 1847. The company made various types of earthenware products, including Brown (Sunderland) ware. Peak production was in the 1890`s when they employed 40 workers, mainly female. The business closed in 1927. // ... // The stone bottle in the top right is from The Clarence Potteries Ltd,who were situated on Grove Terrace in 1930.'

Stockton on Tees [unitary authority]

1932

Ceramic, stoneware, Glaze

Fired, Glazed