We sell and collect Rockingham pottery. Rockingham can be identified with the Antique Griffin Mark.
This pottery was originally owned by Brameld but later renamed the Rockingham Works
and as a compliment to Earl Fitzwilliam's uncle, the Marquis of Rockingham. The family
crest of a griffin was adopted as the factory mark. The red griffin mark was
used on Rockingham Pottery between 1826 and 1830. High quality tea and dessert
services in a wide variety of colours and patterns established a first class
reputation for Rockingham ware during this period. The Rockingham Pottery based in
Swinton South Yorkshire England and was supported by the Fitzwilliam family. It
was originally established in 1745 by Joseph Flint. However with the backing of
Earl Fitzwilliam it was taken over by the Brameld family in 1806 . The Earl also
stepped in to save the pottery in 1825 when it was almost made bankrupt and it
was around this time that the trademark Rockingham porcelain first went into
production.
Rockingham china has a distinctive Griffin crest and became world famous,
purchased by many of the leading nobles of the day. Sadly production was very
short lived: the last major undertaking to produce a 200 piece dessert service
for King William IV seemed to have been achieved at the expense of commercial
viability and the pottery closed in 1842.
Because of it's comparative rarity, Rockingham Pottery is now highly sought
after and is often bought as an investment for the future. For those wanting to
view the pottery, Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham has one the most extensive
collections in the world, including the famous "Rhinoceros Vase" (at the time
the largest single cast piece of porcelain the world) which was housed in
Wentworth Woodhouse until sold by the Fitzwilliam family in 1948 to pay Death
Duties.
All that remains of the Rockingham Pottery today is the massive Waterloo Kiln
(named after the battle of Waterloo ). Following the closure of the pottery the
Kiln was used for some time as an isolation hospital, and then until 1951 as a
private dwelling. The Kiln is now maintained by Rotherham Borough Council. The
area surrounding the kiln, including the ponds formerly used to supply water for
the works, has now been converted into a small nature reserve.
I collect and sell Rockingham Pottery. The Rockingham Pottery was supported by
the Fitzwilliam family. The pottery was based in Swinton, South Yorkshire.
Rockingham Pottery was originally established by Joseph Flint in 1745 but was
taken over by the Brameld family in 1806 with the backing of the Earl
Fitzwilliam.
In 1825 the trademark Rockingham porcelain first went into production.
My new passion is collecting and restoring old British Antique Telephones.