BO'NESS POTTERY

At a meeting of the town’s Police Commission on Monday, 12th December 1887, a letter from Mr Crosthwaite, Grange Road was read.

Henry Crosthwaite was the secretary of the Bo’ness Industrial Pottery and Manufacturing Society Limited.

In his letter he explained that as a result of the Society considering the building of a pottery in the Grangepans district of the town, it was appealing to the Commission to consider supplying water for manufacturing purposes in that water district at a rate the same as supplied to manufacturers in the town proper.

A few months after the water rate appeal, advertisements for shares started to appear in the press.

In March 1889, at their first general meeting in Clarence Street Hall, Glasgow (below left), shareholders unanimously agreed to accept the site in Grangepans offered by Mr Henry Moubray Cadell of Grange (below right).

On Saturday, 25th January 1890, around 40 shareholders attended the second general meeting in the Scottish Co-operative Hall in Glasgow.

In the Annual Report of the 22nd Co-operative Congress, held in Glasgow in May 1890, John Allan, Chairman, reported:

The proposed Pottery at Bo’ness does not make the progress promoters could wish.  A site has been secured, but more capital is required before a beginning can be made.  The Committee have made an earnest and urgent appeal to secure the necessary capital, and are confident, were it provided, the pottery would prove a most successful undertaking.

Later, at the same meeting under the heading of

The Progress of the Co-operative Movement in Scotland since the Edinburgh Congress, 1883

we are given more of the same reserved optimism:

A most persistent effort is also being made to form a Society for the manufacturing of Pottery in the vicinity of Bo’ness; a considerable amount of share capital has been subscribed, a site has been secured, and very strong efforts are at present being put forth by the Committee to procure the necessary amount of capital to enable them to begin operations.  It is hoped that before another Scottish Congress comes around, it will have justified the confidence of the promoters.

On Saturday, 31st January 1891, at the third general meeting, in the Clarence Street Hall, Glasgow, John Ramsay, president, predicted great success for their society …
 

• John Marshall, secretary, reported that 1,000 shares had been applied for since the last general meeting, the financial statement was satisfactory and directors were negotiating a loan for £4,000 using the works as security.
   
• John Ramsay was re-elected president and James Borrowman was elected a member of committee in place of George Mackie who had been appointed practical manager of the works.
   
• Mr. Simpson, the architect, exhibited his plans for the pottery assuring those present that the works would be completed by August.
   
• Co-operative Societies throughout the country had helped raise capital by purchasing shares.
    

At a ceremony at the Grangepans site on Saturday, 7th March 1891, the first sod was cut by Mrs Henry Cadell (pictured right with her husband).  Prior to the ceremony, the respected lady was presented with a valuable spade which was inscribed ...

Presented to Mrs H M Cadell, of Grange, by Mr R Simpson, architect,

on behalf of the contractors for erecting the works, on her breaking

the ground, for the formation of the Bo’ness Industrial Co-operative Pottery

and Manufacturing Society (Limited). Bo’ness, 7th March 1891.

The half-yearly general meeting on Saturday, 8th August 1891, held in the Coffee House, Bo’ness, (pictured below as it is today) attracted a large number of shareholders and delegates. They heard that the construction of the works was behind schedule but it was hoped to begin full operations about the New Year.

Limited production at the pottery began in October 1891.

On Saturday, 16th January 1892, all the directors and officials and a number of the public gathered at the pottery to watch John Marshall, the company secretary, formally turn on the steam at the large engine. Afterwards, Mr Marshall held a dinner for the directors.

The official opening was Saturday, 5th March 1892. Unfortunately, James Borrowman, Chairman of the pottery company, was unable to attend and perform the opening ceremony due to illness.

Mr William Maxwell (left), Chairman of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, deputised at the ceremony.

A memorial stone was laid, in the cavity of which was a jar containing documents narrating the various incidents that led to the erection of the pottery and copies of leading daily and local newspapers.  Once the formalities were finished, dinner was served in one of the warehouses.

James Borrowman died three months later (9th June) at his home, 58 Pollok St., Glasgow.

By August 1892 the pottery was very busy, with orders plentiful from societies and the open market and several extensions with new tubs and jollies had been added.

At the half-yearly general meeting of Saturday, 20th August 1892, held in the pottery, it was announced that there had been an increase in share capital of £1,400 and that the works had still to reach full productive capacity.  William Maxwell, who had opened the works in March, was presented with a set of vases as a memento of the opening ceremony.

5 months later, at a meeting of the shareholders on Saturday, 21st January 1893, the balance sheet showed a deficit of about £700 for the previous six months.  A report as to the valuation of the works was also submitted, which showed a difference of £1,394 between the actual cost and the estimated value of the works.  The directors blamed their lack of success to the small amount of share capital subscribed. This amounted to £7,033, whilst the Society’s liabilities were £17,756.

Scottish Wholesale Society delegates stated that if two-thirds more capital was subscribed, they would increase their society’s shares in the concern by £1,000.  Bo’ness Co-operative Society promised a loan of £500 but only on condition that £4,000 additional capital was subscribed.

At a shareholders meeting on Saturday, 4th February 1893, the secretary reported that £3,595 had been raised by share capital and promises. However, this was less than the £4,000 minimum figure that some societies had insisted on before they released their promises.

On Saturday, 25th March 1893, a special meeting of the SCWS was held in Glasgow and delegates voted 307 to 44 in favour of giving a £1,000 loan to the pottery society.

At the end of March, Martin Brothers (Ltd.), Plymouth, presented a petition to the Sheriff against the pottery seeking for the society to be wound up and an official liquidator appointed. Martin Brothers were owed £117 9s 3d.

On a more encouraging note, the press announced in May that the pottery had been the first in Scotland to adopt a new method of enamelling their wares. This method produced wares with one firing less than the ordinary method and so saved time and money.  These wares were manufactured in ivory vellum and terra cotta colours. They resembled Doulton ware, had proved popular in the market and as a result, the works were busily employed.

At the half-yearly general meeting on Saturday, 19th August 1893, around 90 delegates and shareholders heard that the volume of trade had considerably increased in the last 6 months.

However, there was still a need for capital.

On Saturday, 4th November 1893, a special general meeting of the shareholders was held in the Oddfellows Hall, Falkirk (left). They heard that the pottery was still in financial straits. This was attributed to the expensive machinery and buildings combined with the lack of share capital.  Two recommendations were proposed by the board of managers and after considerable discussion a large majority agreed to their adoption:

1. Share values be reduced by 50 per cent

2. Mr John Grieve, late of the Saracen Pottery, Glasgow, be

    appointed general manager.

These changes may have made a difference if they had been

given time, however ...

In January 1894, a petition was presented to the Sheriff at Linlithgow asking for the company to be wound up. This was done in February 1894 and liquidators were appointed. As a result, 95 people lost their jobs.

At the most, there was just over two years of production.

The accounts of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society showed that this pottery venture had resulted in society losses of £500 in 1893 and £1,493 13s. 3d. in 1894.

In May 1894, the pottery was put up for sale by public roup at the Faculty Hall, Glasgow.                                                                         Faculty Hall, 12 St George’s Place – address at time of roup
                                                                                                                                                      (Nelson Mandela Place since 16th June 1986)

Notice of the roup appeared in the 5th May 1984 edition of The Scotsman:

POTTERY FOR SALE

There will be Exposed to Public Roup, within the Faculty Hall, Glasgow, on Wednesday the 9th day of May 1894, at 3 o’clock P.M. (by instructions of Edward Peterkin, Solicitor, Linlithgow, Official Liquidator of the Industrial and Co-operative Pottery Society, Limited, Bo’ness).

That Substantially-built POTTERY in GRANGEPANS, BO’NESS, which was built about three years ago, and which contains:-

A Single Guide Steam Engine (high pressure), 60 h.p., 6 feet stroke, 14 feet flywheel: a Double-flued Boiler, 100 upright tubes. Mill House, with 4 Grinding Pans, 4 Colour Mills, and all necessary tanks and appliances. Slip House, with 3 Iron Plungers, Large Pug Mill, 4 Pumps, Clay Hoist, and necessary tanks. Jolly Shop, with 8 Jollies, 4 Jiggers, 2 Batting Machines and 10 Hezagon Stoves, the whole being heated by exhaust steam from engine. Throwing and Turning Shop, with 2 Throwers’ Wheels, with Stove Accommodation, and 18 Turning-Lathes. Bisque Warehouse and Printing Shop, with 2 Steam Stoves, and 4 Printing Presses, and Ample Storage Accommodation. Large and Commodious Warehouse. Two Bisque Kilns, 16 feet each: 2 Gloss Kilns, 14 feet each. Seggar House, Green House, Dipping House, Fritt Furnace.

The Machinery and Plant are all nearly new, and are of the most modern description.

The Works are most conveniently situated, having a Railway Siding into them, and are within 500 yards of a Colliery. They are nearly midway between Bo’ness and Bridgeness Harbours, both being only a few minutes’ walk distant, which admits of materials being landed at small cost.

The Works are capable of doing a large trade, are there is provision for future extension.