The History of Sharpe's Pottery
Early Days
First established by local farmer Thomas Sharpe in 1821, the site on which the museum stands is believed to be the only surviving sanitary ware works site in the country. Originally the site manufactured domestic pottery, much of which was exported to America in the late 19th century to meet the needs of the burgeoning European settlers in that continent.
Some of the early wares of Sharpe's Pottery included traditional Derbyshire ironstone clay known as 'Yellow Ware'. These included dishes, teapots, jugs, mugs, cups, jars, ewers, plates, platters and milk pans
Sharpe's also produced many other utilitarian products such as hand basins, soap drainers, chamber pots, slop jars, commodes and bed pans.
Wares and Products of Sharpe's Pottery
Some of the early wares of Sharpe's Pottery included traditional Derbyshire ironstone clay known as 'Yellow Ware'. These included dishes, teapots, jugs, mugs, cups, jars, ewers, plates, platters and milk pans
Sharpe's also produced many other utilitarian products such as hand basins, soap drainers, chamber pots, slop jars, commodes and bed pans. Sharpe's also made stone bottles.
The Great Exhibition in 1851 at Crystal Palace displayed examples from their domestic wares. These included articles of Derbyshire Ironstone, Cane Ware and Rockingham Ware
The Rise of the Toilets
During the 1850s, for public health reasons there was an ‘explosion’ in the sanitary ware market and the local clay was ideal for the production of such products. This, together with the patenting of the successful ‘rim flush’ toilet here at Sharpe’s led to the factory concentrating on sanitary, ceasing production of ‘pots’ in 1900.
Between 1865 and 1899, Sharpe's began to continue to expand its growing range of sanitary wares which developed to be numbered and named water closets. They manufactured a range of sanitary ware including water closet, basins, taps and urinals.
Of course, Sharpe's wasn't the only manufacturer of Sanitary Wares, with the Tall Chimneys being mere remnants of the once bustling Swadlincote industrial skyline.
The Closing Years
The factory flourished, along with many other local sanitary ware makers and sewer pipe manufacturers, until the 1950s. However following the death of Edmund Sharpe, Sharpe's began to slowly decline. From 1894 onwards, the company's products were almost exclusively sanitary ware. By the Mid 30s there was six coal-fired kilns in operation. The coming of the Clean Air Acts around that time required new techniques and greater regulation for the environment. Sharpe’s factory had never really modernised and it became apparent it could not survive in this ‘modern’ world, it finally closed in 1967.
The History of TG Greens
Foundation
T.G. Greens & Co was founded by Thomas Goodwin Green of Boston in 1864. Like most other potteries, he was attracted to South Derbyshire for the rich clay deposits. Constructing an amazing, huge factory in Church Gresley, his pottery began producing various assemblages of domestic wares from utilitarian Wartime pottery to colourful Art Deco designs.
The First Cornishware
The exact date of T.G. Greens most famous range of pottery, the infamous Cornishware, is unknown. It was introduced though by Frederick Parker who joined the company as General Manager in 1919. Initially he introduced Electric Blue Branded Wares in china shops around 1922. The earliest mention of Cornishware by name is in a T.G. Green's Trade Catalogue from 1923. Much rumour concerns the reasoning for its name, but it probably came from it's similarity to the Cornish sky, represented the white crests over blue waves. It was created using a nifty lathe-turning technique which scraped blue slip away from its beautiful ceramics to reveal white brands of clay undeath.
Strength to Strength
By the 1930s, the Cornishware range was well established. It was widely sold throughout the UK, both in larger stores and independent retailers. Cornishware stockists carried a standard range of lettered jars, such as flour, sugar, salt, currants, tea and coffee. The 1960s saw the introduction of Sunlit Yellow to the range, as the look was updated by talented designer Judith Onions. The iconic design has features in children's books, adverts and magazines, showing the strength and simplicity of this domestic product.
Collapse and Rebirth
However, in 2007, T.G. Green's, one of the last remaining major potteries in South Derbyshire, closed it doors for good. However, the company was purchased by a Chinese business who restarted the business in China. Now several lines are made in Stoke on Trent and in the West Country, all of which have T.G. Greens green stamp of approval.
In 2020, Sharpe's Art and Heritage Trust announced that it would be holding a special exhibition of the work of one of South Derbyshire's finest pottery.