Editing Josiah Spode (section)

== Spode's Works ==
Spode rented a factory in Church Street, [[Stoke-on-Trent]] in 1767. There he was in financial partnership with William Tomlinson (a solicitor), and in 1772 he took on a pottery at [[Shelton, Staffordshire]] with Thomas Mountford as his backer.<ref>R. Copeland, ''Spode'', p. 4.</ref> In 1776 he bought the old pottery works at Stoke<ref>R. Copeland, ''Spode'', p. 5 Fig. 3 shows the record of purchase.</ref> that had formerly been the property of William Banks while in partnership with John Turner.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/1008.htm | title=John Turner / John & William Turner }}</ref> This was the same site on which the later Spode factory arose, which continued operating into modern times (circa 2008). Josiah's business in creamware and in [[pearlware]] (a fine white-glazed earthenware) was very successful.

In 1775 Josiah's eldest son Josiah (II) married Elizabeth, the niece of John Barker, a manufacturing potter of [[Fenton, Staffordshire]].<ref>It is stated in [https://books.google.com/books?id=AkMAQ1K3g4gC History of the Staffordshire Potteries] by Simeon Shaw that his wife was John Barker's daughter, but he in fact married the daughter of Thomas Barker (brother of John) and Elizabeth Hammersley. This is confirmed in both of their wills.</ref> Josiah the elder took this opportunity to establish the regular London business. Between 1775 and 1782 Josiah II and Elizabeth moved between [[Longton, Staffordshire]] and [[Cripplegate|Cripplegate, London]], where he was doubtless manager of the Fore Street warehouse under the guidance of [[William Taylor Copeland]], his father's friend and London partner.<ref>Simeon Shaw, ''History of the Staffordshire Potteries'' (1829), p. 216.</ref> During this time the young couple had sons William (1776) and Josiah (1777)<ref>Baptisms at Stoke on Trent.</ref> and daughters Eliza (1778), Sabia (1780) and Mary (1781).<ref>Baptisms at Cripplegate, London</ref> Elizabeth Spode died in London in 1782. Josiah the elder became a [[Freeman of the City of London]] in 1778 and was a [[Liveryman]] of the [[Spectacle Makers' Company]].<ref>Hayden 1925, Plate facing p. 16, & p. 20.</ref>

Josiah Spode I is credited<ref>Hayden 1925, p. viii.</ref> with the introduction of underglaze blue [[transfer printing]] into the Staffordshire potteries in 1781–84.<ref>Hayden 1925, 46–53.</ref> More precisely he was the first to introduce a perfected method to Stoke, (with the help of engraver Thomas Lucas and printer James Richards, formerly of the Caughley Pottery Works,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.caughleysociety.org.uk/A-BRIEF-HISTORY-OF-CAUGHLEY-PORCELAIN | title=A Brief History of Caughley Porcelain }}</ref> [[Shropshire]]), using improvements recently developed at nearby [[Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire|Shelton]] by or for Ralph Baddeley.<ref>Simeon Shaw, ''History of the Staffordshire Potteries'' (Simeon Shaw, Hanley 1829), pp. 214–216.</ref>
 
Spode the elder also, between 1788 and 1793, established and finalised the formula for English [[bone china]], for whereas bone ash had previously been added in other factories to the fabric in proportions of roughly 40%, Spode simplified and greatly improved the recipe (see [[Spode]]).<ref>Hayden 1925, Chapter 5, pp 88–104.</ref>

Spode had various commercial premises in London, originally in Fore Street, Cripplegate. However, the warehouse was finally settled in the former [[Lisle's Tennis Court|Theatre Royal]], no 5 Portugal Street, [[Lincoln's Inn Fields]], which his firm occupied from 1795 to 1848, when the building was razed. (This had been the venue of the first performance of the ''[[Beggar's Opera]]'' in 1727.<ref>Hayden 1925, 20–22.</ref>)

Josiah Spode the elder died in 1797 and his wife Ellen died in 1802, aged 76. They are buried in Stoke-on-Trent churchyard.

[[File:Josiah Spode family tomb.jpg|thumb|Josiah Spode family tomb, St Peter Vincula church, Stoke-on-Trent.]]