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CHAPTER 5

Today - a phoenix from the ashes!

Lowestoft Porcelain shut down in 1802, the result of a plan to withdraw from the market by ageing owners who were tired of the exercise - only to re-open 198 years later.

Peter Knight, a Lowestoft businessman operating Peto Craft, brought the firm back to life when in the year 2000 he set up "Lowestoft Porcelain 2000" to make porcelain in the style of the old Lowestoft ware, as well as later more modern forms. The firm was opened officially on Mothers' Day 2001 with premises partly in London Road South (the old Peto Craft premises) and partly at the "Kiln" at the Peto Gallery, but has since expanded and moved to Redgrave House, Battery Green Road. The implication of the name of the house will not be lost on students of Lowestoft Porcelain!

The firm seems to be doing well. The quality of the porcelain product is superb and has become very collectable. It has a web site which you can access here - an order form is available on the website.. It is interesting to note that the firm's policy is that each of the workers concerned with the manufacture of every piece makes their mark on the base - either with a number or their name. A key as to the number identity is enclosed with every piece.

In 2008, Norwich Castle Museum, which holds a very fine collection of Lowestoft Porcelain, held a "China East" event over the May Bank Holiday, and artists from the company, Helen Thrower & Colin Challis were invited to greet the public and to paint specialised pieces on a stand beside the collection. On exhibition was a replica of an original Lowestoft China coffee cup painted by Helen and displayed alongside the original.Painted in 22 ct gold paint it sells at £375 to collectors of the modern product - the original would have cost about 1 shilling (5p)!

The coffee cup and Helen painting





























Colin has also been busy painting his second set of highly popular bird beak jugs which are also available to buy from Lowestoft Porcelain at http://www.lowestoftporcelain.co.uk or by visiting the showroom at Battery Green Road, Lowestoft

a sparrow beak creamer and Colin painting





























The original Lowestoft China factory had various specialisms, one of which was the production of birth tablets, and this has been continued by the new firm. Promotion by Lowestoft Journal stimulated considerable interest in the Birth Celebration tablet, where customers and collectors alike are recognising the heritage and individuality of these family heirloom pieces. A perfect gift to celebrate any occasion. (Births, Christenings, Anniversaries, Weddings, Graduations, Retirements and Awards), they are recorded in thecompany ledger but the details are lodged with the Suffolk County Archivist in perpetuity.



An anniversary birth tablet in its presentation box

Since this paper derives from my family history it might be approriate to mention the Southwold Tankyard which figures in the Lowestoft Porcelain website.



William Mewse's tankard

This item of Lowestoft Porcelain which may be seen in Bristol Museum was used by the new firm to illustrate an interesting account of the research undertaken into the William for whom it was made.. William was the son of William Mewse whose half-sister Ruth Mewse or Smith married Caleb Aldred and became mother to Obed Aldred, co-founder of the original firm of Walker & Co. Thus Obed and William Mewse of Southwold were cousins. The John Glasspoole referred in the article to was brother-in-law to William of Southwold.

I had the good fortune to visit the new premises in Lowestoft and was received by Mr Knight and most of his staff who were not only intrigued by the relationship to the Aldreds and Mewses, but made me a replica of the tankard which now sits proudly in our welsh dresser. The replica has been produced now as a sale item


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