HISTORICALEIGH - Pottering About Down Under

March 2, 2015 by Carole Mulroney

Pottering About Down Under

Bundock is a name in Leigh which everyone associates with boat building, but, one of the Bundock family was instrumental in producing an Australian family industry which continues to this day.

In 1876 Charlotte Jane Bundock of Leigh married William Mashman of Lambeth at St Clements. The Mashmans of Lambeth were a large family all associated with the Lambeth Doulton potteries. Charlotte and William had 2 children in Leigh, but sadly Charlotte died in 1882, and William and his brother Henry emigrated to Sydney in 1883.

They worked in a 'pottery' and eventually started their own pottery business. The northern districts of Sydney had excellent deposits of good clay and the area seemed set for a building boom as land auctions were taking place and people were seeking land away from the city area.

The brothers entered into a partnership with James Sanderson and formed Mashman and Sanderson "Victoria Pottery" in July 1885. Two other brothers had arrived from England and in 1887 William's two sons made the journey.

They produced salt glazed items including; Ginger Beer bottles. Bread Pans, Squat Jars, Water filters, etc. In 1890 the company name changed to Mashman Brothers 'Victoria Pottery". The demand for drain and agricultural pipes increased and the firm was a major employer of people in the area during this period.

William's son Frederick started up his own operation in 1908 under the name of 'Fred A.. Mashman Pty. Ltd. St. George Pottery where he manufactured terracotta chimney pots, flower pots, air bricks, ridge tiles, roof tiles and finials.

Over the 20th century there were various changes to products and companies and in 1957 the Royal Doulton Company of England formed a merger with Mashman Brothers, a company known as Doulton Mashman Pottery Ltd and by 1959 had completely taken over the works, forming Doulton Sanitary Potteries Pty Ltd.

So, the company started by the brothers from Doulton's in Lambeth had come full circle and was part of Doultons once more. And the name Victoria Pottery travelled from Leigh to Sydney.

For more information go to http://www.leighsociety.com/leighway click on Issue 17, page 7

This article is by our leading Historian Carole Mulroney.