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Summary

The Blashfield Terracotta Factory in Wharf Road was in operation from 1858 to 1875 and produced terracotta products which were sold throughout England and internationally

Full description

PRN 30744
The final phase of demolition of old Stamford Corporation yard (south side of Wharf Road) was undertaken around 1980. The site is next door to the terracotta works. At the east end of site, the ground was cleared to 4 feet below the late 19th century levels. The excavation exposed a section of the adjoining works. The section was made up of ash and brick debris mixed with natural clay. The lowest level of the section produced a vast dump of damaged plaster moulds which were very wet. Some were removed by J. Smith for Stamford Museum. {1}
The Stamford Terra Cotta Works were officially opened on 14th March 1859 and the firing of the first kiln was attended by the Marchioness of Exeter and her family. The first firing included a model of Queen Victoria which was presented to her by Prince Albert, who had received it from the Marquis. By 1863 the firm employed a large labour force and advertised as potters and manufacturers of terra cotta chimney pots, balusters, trusses, vases, statues etc. There are several bound volumes at the Town Hall which give complete details about the works, products, raw materials and methods of manufacture. Many buildings in the town are decorated in Blashfield terracotta. {2}
During trial trenching, a number of fragments of terracotta mouldings were recorded. {3}{4}
The site was first developed in 1845, when an Iron Foundry was erected by the Marquess of Exeter (PRN 36475). In 1858 the premises were taken over by John Marriot Blashfield who erected several terracotta kilns. This proved to be an important centre for production, trading in Britain and internationally. Blashfield products went to Buckingham Palace, Windsor, The Victoria and Albert Museum, and abroad to India and America. A Blashfield terracotta balustrade still exists fronting the river. After liquidation of the company in 1875, several other firms were established in the area. An archaeological evaluation conducted on the site found evidence for the Blashfield factory, including the remains of a possible kiln and a tile floor. {5}{6}
According to Llewellyn Jewitt in around 1878, the Stamford Terracotta Works was established by Mr J. M. Blashfield in 1858. Blashfield owned mills in London but removed to Lincoln in 1858 due to the better standard of clay in the region used in the production of tiles and bricks. In 1874, the company merged and became a limited liability company. However, this failed and in 1875 the plant and stock was sold at auction. {7}
Blashfield's Stamford site included a 100 foot long showroom along the north edge of the site. A plan of 1872 shows four kilns. The 1860s were the most prosperous period for the company, with numerous illustrious commissions in the U.K. and abroad. Production increased and new models were introduced. Blashfield's designs won medals at the 1862 and 1867 Paris Exhibitions. By 1870 the range had increased to over 1400 items and the company had a good reputation. However, due to poor business practices and uneconomical contracts the success of the business did not continue and it became a limited company in 1872 before going into voluntary liquidation in 1875. The works and stock were sold off in two auctions, with many of the moulds being acquired by other artificial stone companies (just as many had originally been acquired from Coade's when that company closed). {8}

<1> SMR cards for Stamford, -,1980, TILL G (Index). SLI3292.

<2> BIRCH, N.C., 1972, Stamford: An Industrial History, pp 10-11 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI4822.

<3> University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2000, Evaluation at Wharf Road, Stamford, STW00 (Report). SLI6328.

<4> University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2000, Evaluation at Wharf Road, Stamford, LCNCC 2000.298 (Archive). SLI6329.

<5> University of Leicester Archaeological Services, Sept 2003, An Archaeological Evaluation and Auger Survey at Wharf Road/Albert Road, Stamford, WRS03 (Report). SLI8946.

<6> University of Leicester Archaeological Services, Sept 2003, An Archaeological Evaluation and Auger Survey at Wharf Road/Albert Road, Stamford, LCNCC 2003.276 (Archive). SLI8947.

<7> Frank, D.L., 1972, 'Llewellyn Jewitt's View of the Stamford Brick and Terra-cotta Works with comments by D.L. Franks' in Lincolnshire Industrial Archaeology, Vol.7, No.4, pp.49-54 (Article in Serial). SLI12240.

<8> Scott, Simon, 2009, Artificial Stone, pp 16-18; pp 42-46 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI13212.

Monument Types

• ARTEFACT SCATTER (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)
• DRYING HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)
• FLOOR (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)
• POTTERY KILN (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)
• TERRACOTTA WORKS (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)

Associated Finds

• FLOOR TILE (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)
• MOULDING (Post Medieval - 1858 AD to 1875 AD)
• SHERD (Post Medieval - 1859 AD to 1879 AD)

Associated Events

• Evaluation at Wharf Road, Stamford
• Land at Wharf Road / Albert Road, Stamford

Protected Status

• Conservation Area

Sources and further reading

Related records

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