Transcribed from the 1877 Salopian and West-Midland Officeedition .
WITH NOTICESOF THE
Early Use of SHROPSHIRE CLAYS, theHistory of
POTTERY, PORCELAIN, &c., in the District.
BY
JOHN RANDALL, F.G.S.,
Authorof
‘TheSevern Valley,’ ‘Old Sports and Sportsmen,’‘Life
of Captain Webb,’ ‘JohnWilkinson,’ &c.
MADELEY, SALOP:
Printed andPublished at the Salopian and West-Midland
Office.
1877.
TO
Alexander H. Brown, Esq., M.P.
Sir,
The following treatise on the “Clay Industries” ofthe Borough you represent may scarcely appear at first sight ofthat importance to warrant the usual form of a dedication, and Iconfess I cannot but wish, for present purposes, that its meritswere more commensurate with the object. As a large numberof your constituents however are engaged in these variousbranches of trade—in one of which you too have more than ageneral interest, and as I have been at some trouble to collectfacts bearing upon their general history, the work itself may notbe without some value.
The motive which dictates the dedication will not, I think, bemisconstrued, p.ivinasmuch as the prominent part I took more than nineyears ago in introducing you to the constituency, as one likelyto become a representative of the “CommercialElement” of the Borough, and the highly satisfactory way inwhich those predictions have been verified and fulfilled, as wellas the very general regard and esteem all feel who have observedyour public and private character, justify me in feeling aspecial pride in the result, and hereby making this publicacknowledgement of services so faithfully and honourablyrendered.
I have the honour to remain,
Dear Sir,
yours faithfully,
JohnRandall.
Madeley,Jan.1st,1877.
The Borough of Wenlock comprisesplaces not only rich in historic interest but important also ascentres of manufacturing industry; and none more so than thosegrouped within a mile or two of the Iron-bridge, itself a work ofworld-wide fame. “Broseley Pipes” and“Broseley Bricks,”—the latter including allsimilar productions emanating from Coalbrookdale, the Woodlands,Lady-Wood, Coleford, &c.—possess acknowledged meritswhich create for them a constant demand, whilst in higherbranches of the art, where similar natural and other clays areused, Messrs. Maw, Craven, Dunnill, and Co., and Bathurst, find astill more extensive market for th