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Abstract
SUMMARY: In 2007, extensive archaeological excavation was undertaken on an important post-medieval glassworking site at Glass Wharf, Bristol. The excavation exposed remains relating to a series of glassworks dating between the early 18th and early 20th centuries and, significantly, uncovered a sequence of five glass-melting furnaces and covering structures, which together reflect wider changes in glassmaking technology throughout these periods. Detailed scientific analysis of glassworking debris from the excavation has also been undertaken, which provides much-needed detail on the development of recipes and raw materials used in bottle manufacture during the 18th and 19th centuries.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to Matthew Fox, Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd, for commissioning the post-excavation analysis and providing a publication grant, and to Bob Jones, Senior Archaeological Officer, Bristol City Council, for his support and advice during all stages of the project. The 2007 excavation was managed by Ian Miller and directed by Vix Hughes and Chris Wild, who were assisted by Christina Robinson, Chris Standish, Peter Cox, Robin Maggs, Elizabeth Verrinder, Martin Greavy, Richard Kerr, Charlotte Haines, Rebecca Griffin, Des O’Leary, Pete Stock, Trevor Jose, Simon McCann, Rowena Tucker, Becky Wegiel and Annie Hamilton-Gibney. This article has greatly benefited from the comments provided by the two referees for the Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology.
Notes
PRIMARY SOURCES
British Patents (B.P.)
B.P. 167. 1861, Improvements in Furnaces.
B.P. 1320. 1857, Improvements in Furnaces and in the Application of Heated Currents.
B.P. 2861. 1856, Improved Arrangement of Furnaces which Improvements are Applicable in all Cases where Great Heat is Required.
B.P. 3478. 1872, Glass Furnaces.
Cartographic sources
Ashmead, G.C. & Plumley, J. 1829, Plan of the City of Bristol and its Suburbs. Surveyed 1813–28.
Goad. C.E. 1896a, Insurance plan of Bristol, Volume II, sheet 47.
Goad. C.E. 1896b, Insurance plan of Bristol, Volume II, sheet 48.
Ordnance Survey 1885a, First Edition, Gloucestershire Bristol Sheet LXXVI.1.1, 1:500, surveyed 1882.
Ordnance Survey 1885b, First Edition, Gloucestershire Bristol Sheet LXXVI.1.2, 1:500, surveyed 1883.
Ordnance Survey 1904, Second Edition, Gloucestershire Sheet LXXVI, 1:2500, revised 1902.
Roque, J. 1742, A Plan of the City of Bristol. Survey’d and Drawn by John Roque, Engrav’d by John Pine.
Parliamentary papers (P.P.)
P.P. 1835, Thirteenth Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the Excise Establishment, and into the Management and Collection of the Excise Revenue throughout the United Kingdom. Glass, London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
Trade directories
Kelly (Wright), 1925, Directory of Bristol and Suburbs, Bristol: Chilmark.
Mathews, 1851, Bristol Street Directory, Bristol: Mathews & Williams.
UNPUBLISHED SOURCES
AOC 2002, Report on an Archaeological Evaluation at Land to the Rear of Avon Street, Bristol, unpubl. rep.
AOC 2004, Archaeological Evaluation and Follow-on-works at Land to the North-west of Avon Street, Bristol, unpubl. rep.
Blakelock, E. 2007, Bedminster Glue Factory, Bristol: Examination and Analysis of Glass and Glassworking Debris, Res Dep. Rep. 11/2007, English Heritage.
Bristol & Region Archaeological Service (BaRAS) 1995, Archaeological Evaluation of Land at Avon Street, Bristol, unpubl. rep.
Dungworth, D. 2003, Scientific examination of glass and glass-working materials from Silkstone, Yorkshire, Res Dep. Rep. 90/2003, English Heritage.
Dungworth, D. 2005, Investigation of 18th-century Glass and Glassworking Waste from Limekiln Lane, Bristol, Res Dep. Rep. 7/2005, English Heritage.
Dungworth, D. 2007, St Thomas Street, Bristol: Examination of Glass and Glassworking Debris, Res. Dep. Rep. 27/2007, English Heritage.
Dungworth, D. 2016, Analysis of Glass and Glass-working Materials from Temple Quay, Avon Street, Bristol (site of Powell and Ricketts Glassworks), unpubl. rep.
Lewis, J.M. & Philpott, R.A. 1992, Cannington Shaw Bottle Shop, St Helens, Merseyside; archaeological recording of the standing structure, unpubl. rep.
Oxford Archaeology (OA) North 2016, 3 Glass Wharf, Temple Quay: Post-excavation Assessment Report, unpubl. rep.
Oxford Archaeology (OA) North 2017, Corning’s Glassworks, Lisburn Terrace, Sunderland: Final Excavation Report, unpubl. rep.
Smith, A.F. 2004, The Nailsea Glass-works, Nailsea, North Somerset, unpubl. rep.
SUMMARY IN FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN AND SPANISH
RÉSUMÉ
Exploration de l’Industrie verrière historique de Bristol: enquête archéologique des verreries des savonneries et des tonneliers, et des bouteilleries Powell & Ricketts, Avon Street, Glass Wharf, Bristol
En 2007, des fouilles archéologiques intensives ont été menées sur un important site de production de verre post-medieval à Glass Wharf, Bristol. Les fouilles ont permis de mettre au jour des vestiges liés au travail du verre du début du XVIIIe siècle jusqu’au début du XXe siècle. Elles ont également et surtout, permis de découvrir une série de cinq fours de fusion de verre et des structures de couvertue, qui, ensemble, reflètent des changements importants dans la technique de production de verre au cours de cette période. Des débris de production de verre issus des fouilles ont fait l’objet d’analyses scientifiques détaillées, ce qui a permis de livrer des détails bien nécessaires sur le développement de recettes et sur les matières premières utilisées dans la production de bouteilles au cours des XVIIIe et XIXe siècles.
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Erkundung der historischen Glasindustrie Bristols: archäologische Untersuchungen in den Seifensieder und Hooper Gewächshäusern und in Powell & Ricketts Flaschen Werken, Avon Street, Glas Wharf, Bristol
Umfangreiche archäologische Ausgrabungen im Jahr 2007 wurden in einem wichtigen post-mittelalterlichen Glasbläser Meisterort in Glas Wharf, Bristol vorgenommen. Die Ausgrabung brachte eine Reihe von Glashütten zu Tage, datiert zwischen dem frühen 18. und frühen 20. Jahrhundert, und als bedeutend aufgedeckter Fund war die Abfolge von fünf Glas-Schmelz-Öfen mit Verkleidungs-Strukturen, die gemeinsam größere Veränderungen in Glasherstellungs-Technologie in diesen Zeiträumen hervorbrachten. Detaillierte wissenschaftliche Analyse des Abraums der Ausgrabung wurde auch durchgeführt und sieht vor, dringend benötigte Details über die Entwicklung der Rezepturen und Rohstoffe für Flaschen Herstellung während der 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts aufgedeckt zu haben.
RIASSUNTO
Esplorando l’industria storica del vetro a Bristol: indagini archeologiche presso le vetrerie Soap Boilers e Hoopers e l’industria produttrice di bottiglie Powell & Ricketts Works (Avon Street, Glass Wharf, Bristol)
Nel 2007 fu condotta una vasta indagine archeologica presso un importante sito post-medievale, noto per la lavorazione del vetro, a Glass Wharf, Bristol. Lo scavo ha portato alla luce i resti pertinenti a una serie di vetrerie attive fra il primo XVIII secolo e l’inizio del XX. Significativamente, è emersa una sequenza di cinque fornaci per la fusione del vetro, unitamente alle strutture di copertura, che nel complesso riflettono i grandi cambiamenti nella tecnologia produttiva vetraria durante questo periodo. Sono state condotte anche dettagliate analisi archeometriche sulle scorie di lavorazione provenienti dallo scavo; analisi che hanno fornito preziosi dettagli sullo sviluppo delle ricette e sulle materie prime impiegate nella manifattura delle bottiglie durante il XVIII e il XIX secolo.
RESUMEN
Explorando la industria histórica del vidrio de Bristol: investigación arqueológica en los invernaderos de Soap Boilers y Hoopers, y las fábricas de botellas de Powell & Ricketts, Avon Street, Glass Wharf, Bristol
En 2007 se realizaron extensas excavaciones arqueológicas en el importante yacimiento del trabajo de vidrio postmedieval en Glass Wharf, Bristol. La excavación identificó restos relacionados con dicho trabajo datados entre principios del siglo XVIII y principios del siglo XX, entre ellos, una secuencia de cinco hornos de fusión de vidrio y estructuras de cubierta, que juntas reflejan cambios más amplios en la tecnología de fabricación de vidrio a lo largo de este período. Los análisis científicos realizados sobre los restos de vidrio encontrados nos aportan detalles indispensables para entender el desarrollo de las recetas y de las materias primas utilizadas en la fabricación de botellas durante los siglos XVIII y XIX.
The site archive including the finds has been deposited at Bristol's City Museum and Art Gallery (accession no. 2007/30.1)
Oxford Archaeology North, Mill 3, Moor Lane Mills, Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QD, UK [[email protected]]
The post-excavation analysis was funded by Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd, which also provided a grant towards publication.
Notes
1 Buchanan & Cossons Citation1969, 146.
2 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 22.
3 In early glassmaking, kelp was used to produce potash, which in turn could be used to create a mixed alkali glass type (Ure Citation1838, 574).
4 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 22.
5 Defoe Citation1769, 308.
6 Powell Citation1925, 213.
7 Powell Citation1925, 213.
8 Latimer Citation1893, 484.
9 AOC 2002; 2004; BaRAS 1995; OA North 2016.
10 This unpublished excavation focused on the Soap Boilers’ glass cone, beyond the 2007 excavation area, and also the Hoopers’ glass cone, within the 2007 area. At the Soap Boilers’ glass cone, three or four annealing ovens were uncovered, whilst within the Hoopers’ glass cone, the remains of a Siemens-type regenerative furnace were exposed (Jones Citation2007). This latter feature was re-excavated during the 2007 excavation, and has been designated as Furnace B.
11 OA North 2016.
12 Dungworth 2016; Jackson & Gregory forthcoming; OA North 2016.
13 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 50.
14 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 50.
15 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 51.
16 cf. Buckley Citation2003; Powell Citation1925; Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984.
17 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 50.
18 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984, 52.
19 Powell Citation1925, 248.
20 Powell Citation1925, 248.
21 Mathews 1851, 185.
22 Powell Citation1925, 245.
23 Crossley Citation2003.
24 Sheet 47 – Goad 1896a.
25 Hodkin & Cousen Citation1925, 43.
26 Douglas & Frank Citation1972, 109.
27 Hodkin & Cousen Citation1925, 390.
28 Sheet 47 – Goad 1896a.
29 Ure Citation1838, 577.
30 Powell Citation1925, 245.
31 Powell Citation1925, 245.
32 Powell Citation1925, 245.
33 Powell Citation1925, 249.
34 Powell Citation1925, 249.
35 Buchanan & Cossons Citation1969, 146.
36 OS 1885a; 1885b.
37 Goad 1896a; 1896b; Powell Citation1925, 245.
38 Ure Citation1838, 1154.
39 Powell Citation1925, 250.
40 Powell Citation1925, 250.
41 Kelly 1925.
42 Bartholomew Citation1887.
43 Cockeram Citation1998.
44 B.P. 2861; B.P. 1320.
45 Douglas & Frank Citation1972, 115.
46 B.P. 167.
47 Bell Citation2002, 10.
48 Hodkin & Cousen Citation1925, 336.
49 B.P. 1320.
50 B.P. 3478.
51 cf. Rosenhain Citation1919, 71, fig. 7.
52 Bell Citation2002, 13.
53 Parkin Citation2000.
54 Rosenhain Citation1919, 71-2.
55 Douglas & Frank Citation1972, 117.
56 Sheet 47 – Goad 1896a.
57 B.P. 167.
58 Sheet LXXVI.1.1 – OS 1885a.
59 Sheet 47 – Goad 1896a.
60 Sheet LXXVI.1.1 – OS 1885a.
61 Sheet LXXVI.1.2 – OS 1885b.
62 Sheet 48 – Goad 1896b.
63 Sheet LXXVI.1.2 – OS 1885b.
64 Sheet 48 – Goad 1896b.
65 Sheet LXXVI.1.2 – OS 1885b.
66 Sheet LXXVI.1.2 – OS 1885b.
67 Sheet 48 – Goad 1896b.
68 Sheet LXXVI.1.2 – OS 1885b.
69 Sheet 48 – Goad 1896b.
70 Rosenhain Citation1919, 103.
71 Hodkin & Cousen Citation1925, 391.
72 Hodkin & Cousen Citation1925, 391.
73 During the initial post-excavation assessment, undertaken in 2007/08, the number of contexts containing the different categories of glassworking materials was noted from each phase, but this material was not weighed, as this was beyond the remit of the assessment (cf. OA North 2016). It was initially proposed to weigh each category of glassworking materials and make a context-by-context record during analysis. The original developer then went into liquidation and the archaeological analytical process stalled. Funding for post-excavation analysis was eventually secured, although this was substantially reduced, as the new developer was only responsible for part of the site. It was therefore felt that the available resources would be better directed towards chemical analysis, rather than the detailed weighing of the material, as it was estimated that weighing would have taken up half of the available analysis budget and would have provided little additional detail on glass manufacturing at the site.
74 The samples were taken using a variety of tools (diamond fret saw, side-clippers and hammer), depending on the size and form of the original object. The detached fragment was embedded in epoxy resin and then ground and polished to a 3µm finish using standard methods (cf. Paynter & Dungworth Citation2011). The samples were analysed by bench-top Energy Dispersive X-ray Florescence, which provided accurate (and sensitive) analysis of heavy elements (e.g. arsenic, strontium and lead); and an Energy Dispersive Spectroscope attached to an electron microscope, which provided good-quality data on the concentration of lighter elements (sodium to iron). The raw analytical data were calibrated using a range of reference materials (cf. Dungworth & Cromwell Citation2006).
75 Full details of the samples selected for analysis can be found in Dungworth 2016. This unpublished report forms part of the site archive.
76 cf. Dungworth & Cromwell Citation2006; Jackson Citation2005.
77 Dodsworth Citation1982.
78 Dungworth Citation2012.
79 Dungworth Citation2012.
80 Van den Bossche Citation2001.
81 Witt, Weeden & Schwind Citation1984.
82 Dungworth Citation2012.
83 Jones Citation1986.
84 Talbot Citation1974.
85 Dungworth Citation2012.
86 Some of these dairies are listed in mid 20th-century trade directories (cf. Barnette n.d.).
87 Dungworth 2003.
88 Dungworth 2003.
89 Nicholls & Selvig Citation1932.
90 Dungworth Citation2012.
91 cf. Dungworth Citation2013.
92 Dungworth Citation2011.
93 cf. Dungworth Citation2012.
94 Crossley Citation1998.
95 cf. Dungworth Citation2012.
96 cf. Dungworth Citation2012.
97 cf. Van den Bossche Citation2001.
98 cf. Dungworth Citation2012.
99 Contra Dungworth Citation2012.
100 P.P. 1835.
101 Dungworth Citation2012.
102 Miller & Sullivan Citation1984.
103 Ure Citation1838, 577–8.
104 cf. Maujean, Haye & Feuillat Citation1978; Maujean & Seguin Citation1983a; Citation1983b.
105 Cited in Powell Citation1925, 243.
106 Dungworth Citation2011.
107 cf. Rosenhain Citation1919, fig. 7.
108 Bacchetta & Rudd Citation2000.
109 Jackson Citation2007.
110 Dungworth 2007; Jackson Citation2004.
111 Dungworth 2005.
112 Jackson Citation2005.
113 Blakelock 2007; Colls Citation2010.
114 i.e. Bolsterstone (Ashurst Citation1987; Citation2002), Gawber (Ashurst Citation1970) and Silkstone (Ashurst Citation1992; Dungworth & Cromwell Citation2006) in Yorkshire; Denton (Vose Citation1994) and Bickerstaffe (Vose Citation1995) in Lancashire.
115 i.e. Cannington Shaw Bottle Works (Lewis & Philpott 1992) and The Hotties in St Helens (Krupa & Heawood Citation2002); Percival, Vickers & Co. Ltd Glassworks in Manchester (Miller Citation2007); Nailsea Glassworks in Somerset (Smith 2004); and Cornings Glassworks in Sunderland (OA North 2017).