Blossom and brick

 Hello m' thirsty willows,

 

'Blossom and brick' ... I like how those words collide together. One sits stubbornly steady and reliable... the other is fleeting, fragile. Placed side by side for years upon years, they guard one another and share their little quirks. Would they greatly miss each other? Would they prefer to simultaneously fall into ruin?

Each spring, when the blossom blooms, against a backdrop of bricks, it feels like anything and everything is possible. 

 

Sackville Gardens by the Gay Village, Manchester City Centre (back in 2007)

Where once a northern working men's club stood, lay the remains of my great grandparents house. As I kid I'd pass it on the way to school and skirt along its foundations. I knew which room was which. You see my dad had pointed them out to me, so I could visualise the chairs around the kitchen hearth, tea on the hob, a pie cooking.

This post does not follow that family line; all the historical paperwork hints at heartache and the dreaded workhouse. Those bricks are now hidden beneath a thickly tarmacked carpark and a new block of flats. 

This follows another; a line that affirms my industrial roots, but brings me closer to my adopted Cornish home.

Apple blossom

At school, my friends and I would carry out serious digs at the far end of the playing field. These were the Indiana Jones years after all. You were either an 80s jock or archaeologist. At this time of year, we'd escape under a canopy of pink cherry blossom. 

[Pink cherry blossom on recent outing]

One particular fragment find I recognized instantly - a tiny piece of blue printed, stylized apple blossom. It was part of the Willow Pattern. At home, my mam's treasured willow plates graced the mahogany dresser. Smelling of polish, they were pristine and not to be touched.

The blossom setting and romantic fable, ending with the forbidden lovers death and metamorphosis into doves, drew me in. Some say the pattern is based upon the Japanese fairy tale 'Green Willow'.

 

 

Upon researching my dad's family history a couple of years ago, I landed an intriguing link back to Stoke-on-Trent, where I started seeing 'potter' listed as occupation. One particular potting Poulson, Joseph Poulson (x5 great uncle if the website's suggestions are correct) was in business with none other than Thomas Minton - whose work has been known to excite experts on the Antiques Roadshow. 

Minton is widely credited with popularizing the Willow Pattern. Towards the latter half of the 18th century blue and white china ware had become hugely popular with the masses.Thanks to Staffordshire potter Josiah Spode, a new technique called 'transfer ware' was introduced. This replaced the need for hand painting.

Spode also experimented with china clay and found he could replicate the translucent but durable effect that was required for the nation's tea drinking and dining sensibilities.  One historian thinks Poulson had worked as Spode's works manager, which would explain his technical skill and subsequent quick factory setup. 

Minton, having previously specialised in earthenware, started using Poulson's neighboring china factory. In 1796 a relatively brief but successful partnership was forged, ending with Poulson's death in 1808.

 

It seems that Minton was not only good at spinning plates, but he could spin a good marketing yarn too. Some historians believe he orchestrated many accompanying stories to give the willow design a certain mystique and enduring quality. Well, it seems to have worked, as they are still made today, and the design has never been out of production.

 

On to the Cornish link -

Minton and Poulson had shares in the Hendra Clay Company (formed 1800), with a quarry at St. Dennis. Two other renowned Staffordshire potters were in on the deal - Josiah Wedgewood and William Adams. This combined enterprise allowed them to sell quality china clay (decomposed granite) far and wide, sending it via rail up country and down to Falmouth Port.

The area around St Austell in Cornwall became so synonymous with china clay, that to this day it is referred to as the 'Cornish Alps'. You can see the white, scarred earth on Google Maps -

GOOGLE MAPS

Here's a funny coincidence... my online blogging friend Vix traced her family tree back to the Adams Potters, meaning our ancestors were in business together ! Vix has delved deeper and found rebellion, beheading and The Lost Gardens of Heligan in her tree! 

SOURCE: a rather lovely article 'Name of mystery pit revealed'  by L.B Hugh

Since I have a growing appreciation of pits, I think a trip up to china clay country will be on the cards. The old Hendra pit has long been flooded and mother nature's big earthy bosoms look over it now (see picture above). 

There is a however a dedicated museum - the Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre. Of course, the Eden Project's eco biodomes are also situated in an old china clay pit.

Last night I inadvertently invented a new drink called 'Buck's Piss'. It is the usual white wine spritzer, but with added orange juice, to make it look a bit healthy.

I even have a label design, accompanying fable and pit purchase in mind.  Must be those long lost entrepreneurial genes.  Who'd like to buy some shares in the Buck's Piss Pit company then?...

 [Tremough Walled Garden]

 I hope you have a wonderful bank holiday weekend.

Please do say hello if you have stopped by

Lulu xXx

 

 

                   

 [Wisteria on Tremough House]

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