In this page: Profiling the Coalport China Manufacturer
John Rose
John Rose was born in the 1760's, the son of a Scottish farmer. His family had come to Shropshire around 1770 and took Swynney Farm near Broseley. He began his career with Thomas Turner's Caughley China Works. At some point, had an argument with Turner and left to start his own business. He went into partnership with a Mr Blakeway with whom he took over an existing pottery in Jackfield. Shortly afterwards the works were moved to Coalport where they set up an existing, but abandoned, pottery.
Ferry Disaster
Rose built up a fine staff of workers from among local people many of whom lived south of the river. They used the Severn ferry to cross twice a day. On October 23rd 1799 disaster struck when the ferryboat capsized and twenty-eight people drowned. Those lost included some of Rose's finest artists. He was much lauded for his kindness to the survivors and families of the deceased.
Gold Award
In 1820 he was awarded the gold Isis medal of the Society of Arts. His discovery for glazing earthenware without the use of lead or arsenic was superior to any hitherto in use.
Trade Union
Despite a reputation for 'paternal interest' in his workers Rose's employees called a strike in November 1833. The reason being his refusal to accept their right to a Trade Union. He carried on working with a skeleton staff while the strike continued. His neighbours came to see him as a defender of the status quo.
Presentation
In 1834 they subscribed to present him with a massive silver goblet inscribed on one side with the legend:
'Tribute of Respect
To his
Public and Private Character
And to the
Uncompromising Firmness
With which
He has recently Resisted the
Demands of an Illegal
Conspiracy'
Expansion
John Rose died in 1841 and was buried at Barrow near the grave of Thomas Turner. He had expanded Coalport to a size Turner could never have dreamed of. The foundation of that prosperity was Turner's Willow Pattern and the old blue China of Caughley.
Conjecture
There is some doubt about the date of his birth and the date on which he founded his own business. He is said by John Randall to have been born in 1772. Several contemporary accounts describe him leaving the Caughley works to set up his own business in 1780. This would make him something of a child prodigy!
Reproduced by kind permission of Shelagh Lewis, Madeley Living History Project Manager.
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