Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers of China and Earthenware - from the Enoch Wood Scrapbook

Move your pointing device over the image to zoom to detail. If using a mouse click on the image to toggle zoom.
When in zoom mode use + or - keys to adjust level of image zoom.

Date:2nd of July 1812

Description:During the career of Burslem pottery manufacturer Enoch Wood (1759 - 1840), industry bosses frequently gathered to discuss pressing issues and find common solutions to particular problems that they faced.

1812: Cause for Optimism

July 1812 brought the best news in years, as the collapse of overseas trade had brought business to its knees.

In 1807, warring nations Britain and France had effectively barred each other from trading with the United States - a crucial market for the Potteries.

US President Thomas Jefferson responded by barring all US trade with Britain, leading to terrible "distress and sufferings" among manufacturers -and especially their workers.

Now the government was taking steps to remedy the situation by withdrawing the Orders in Council - the very issue that had first upset America.

Thanks

In this notice, the manufacturers confirmed that they were "deeply impressed" by these long-awaited moves, thanking MP Henry Brougham and the Marquis of Stafford for their keen interest.

They also recognised the hard work and zeal of those responsible for mustering a delegation to travel to London: Josiah Wedgwood, Ralph Stevenson, Robert Hamilton and Thomas Lindop.

Nonetheless, they resolved upon enduring further sacrifices with "cheerfulness" if required.

About this Document

This document was collected by local industrialist Enoch Wood and is now part of the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

Share:

Link to this resource

Donor ref:(140/17099)

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.