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Porcelain: Cookworthy began experimenting with porcelain in about 1745. By 1768 he had secured a factory in Plymouth. The early pieces are distinctive due to their faults caused by the experimental nature of Cookworthy’s porcelain. These early pieces are often distorted, and have smoke stains or cracking from the firing process. There were also issues with the glaze. Later pieces from Plymouth improved with beautiful hand painted decoration of birds in bright colours. In 1770 the factory moved to Bristol, which is the focus of this year’s exhibition.
Bristol connections: One of the partners in Cookworthy’s porcelain business was a fellow Quaker and Bristolian Richard Champion. He took over the running of Cookworthy’s factory and patent when William retired from business in 1774. Some of the best pieces of porce- lain were produced at the Bristol factory. This year’s exhibition showcases these pieces including a beautiful neo-classical tea pot with flowers and gilding. The success at Bristol didn’t last. When Champion tried to renew Cookworthy’s patent in 1777, Josiah Wedgwood and other potters in Staffordshire raised objec- tions. The patent formula was upheld but the cost of the legal battle crippled the company. Champion sold the formula in 1782 to the Staffordshire based New Hall Porcelain Company. Cookworthy is also credited with the use of colbalt to make a rich blue glass that Bristol is now associat- ed with. Though much of the evidence of this is rather speculative, more information can be found in our exhibition.
Notable Friends: William Cookworthy was friends with many of the 18th
Century’s greatest
minds, including painter Joshua Reynolds, engineer John Smeaton, who rebuilt the Eddystone Lighthouse while staying with Cookworthy and Dr Samuel Johnson, who compiled the first English dictionary. William was also friends with many who sailed from Plymouth including Captain Cook and Joseph Banks. Captain John Jervis (who went on to become the first Earl of St Vincent) remarked “Whoever was in Mr Cookworthy’s company was always wiser and better for having been in it”
Above: Plymouth Porcelain Teapot made at the Bristol Factory
Left: Plymouth Porcelain sauceboat showing the distortion marking and cracking that is common in early pieces.
Death and Legacy: Following his retire- ment from business, Cookworthy spent his remaining years focussing his energy on his role as a Quak- er Elder. In 1780 his portrait was painted by a young artist John Opie, which captures William in the last year of his life. He died at his house in Notte Street Plymouth on the 17th
Journal records that William Cookworthy was “an eminent Minister of the people called Quakers and one of the greatest Chymists this nation has ever produced.”
Find out More: Come and see Cookworthy’s porcelain and find out more about his life and achievements at the museum. We also have a new exhibition “All the fun of the fair” celebrating 50 years of Kingsbridge Fair Week. Our Spring Family day is on Thursday 18th
April with a special Easter
Egg hunt and we have lots of trails and activities for the whole family. The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10:30am-5:00pm. Entry is free for children under 16 and adults are only £3.
Consider volunteering at the museum If you are looking for something new for 2019 why not consider volunteering at the museum? We are currently looking for volunteer stewards, researchers, collections volunteers and a fundraiser. For more information contact Holly Trubshawe on (01548) 853235 or email wcookworthy@kingsbridgemuseum.
org.uk Our Local Heritage Resource Room is open Monday-Thursday 10-12, and 10-3 on Wednesdays.
©Plymouth History Centre October 1780. Many papers printed obituaries. The Bristol
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