ROBERT H. PENMAN, POTTER in ARMITAGE and GLASGOW

Jean-Pierre Dion                                                                                                      Nov.  9, 2025

( see ADDENDUM of Nov 12, 2025, at the end,  about  a 2023 paper on Penman by Douglas Bowie)

The recent discovery by Denise Schine of a rare pitcher marked Penman, Brown & Co, / Tomato Shape, illustrated in White Ironstone News (WIN) of October 2, 2025, p 18, raises questions about this mark. The information provided by Godden implies that the pitcher was made in Glasgow, Scotland c. 1861-1865. ’’ The Penman, Brown & Co. mark relates to the Glasgow Pottery before the 1865 dissolution of partnership.’’ (Godden’s Guide to Ironstone Stone & Granite Wares, p, 297).  Godden’s information is in fact misleading.

New research establishes that the firm Penman, Brown & Co was active in Armitage Pottery, near Rugeley, Stafford, c. 1854-1856, while it is the firm’s name of R. H. Penman & Co. which was used in Glasgow, c. 1861-1865. I take this opportunity to clarify the contribution of Robert H. Penman to pottery in Armitage and in Glasgow, covering the period 1851 to 1867 and alluding to the brief Penman & Smith association of the latter year.

EARLY POTTERY AT ARMITAGE

There is a mention of pottery being made at Armitage as early as 1817. Thomas Bound, a brick- maker and potter, was active for about 2 years, before his bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy of Thomas Bond, The Bristol Mirror, June 12, 1819, p. 4.

The first reference found of pottery in Armitage made by Robert  Penman is in 1851: ‘’ But in 1851, when the great Exhibition was to move the world in peace and trade, the gates of the little manufactory opened again and Thomas Salt,  of Dalehall,  and Robert Penman commenced to make sanitary ware ‘’ (The Staffordshire Sentinel, July 31 , 1880, p. 7.)

It is worth noting that, in 1852, Robert H. Penman, then of London, married Janet Russell, second daughter of Rev. Thomas Swan of Birmingham. (Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, Dec 27, 1852, p. 3)

ROBERT H. PENMAN AND THOMAS CAREY SWAN

There is a dissolution of partnership dated July 28, 1854, of Robert H. Penman and Thomas Carey Swan, Armitage Pottery, Rugeley, Staffordshire. T. C. Swan was the eldest son of Rev. Thomas Swan and Penman’s brother-in-law. The notice of dissolution appeared in the Aris’s Birmingham Gazette of Dec 4, 1854, p. 4 , and in The Morning Post of Nov 25, 1854, p. 2.

In July 1854, according to Godden’s Guide, p.  296, a firm (Laird and Penman ) was trading under the name of R. H. Penman & Co., but I could not substantiate that statement.

Partnership dissolved. Aris's Birmingham Gazette, Dec. 4, 1854, p. 4

Partnership dissolved. The Morning Post, Nov. 25, 1854, p.2

PENMAN, BROWN & CO., ARMITAGE

The exact date of the creation of the firm of Penman, Brown & Co, Armitage Pottery, is still unknown. It was probably established soon after the Penman / Swan dissolution.  There is a mention by the Kowalskys (Encyclopedia of Marks, p. 441) of Penman, Brown & Co in connection with the Columbia Shape registered in Oct 1855 (by G. W. Read !). 

A notice of dissolution of Penman, Brown & Co., Potters, Armitage Pottery and Hatton-Garden, Holborn, London, dated Nov 7, 1856, was posted in the Aris’s Birmingham Gazette of Dec 1, 1856, p. 4. The names of the partners are given as Robert Hedderwick Penman, George Wm. Brown and David Penman.  The father of the two Penman’s  was most likely another David Penman, a long-time marble cutter of Glasgow, whose wife, Jane Hedderwick, died on  May 15, 1847. David Penman, the marble cutter, died on December 22,  1848, aged 57.

The notice of dissolution also appeared in The Times of Nov 22, 1856, p. 6, with an indication that the firm was trading under the name of Penman Brown & Co. Several other newspapers repeated this notice about Penman, Brown & Co.

Partnership dissolved. Aris's Birmingham Gazette, Dec. 1, 1856, p.4

Partnership dissolved. The Times, Nov. 22, 1856, p.6

The Staffordshire Sentinel of the next day, Nov 8, 1856, (p. 4) wrote that the newly erected Armitage Manufactory is to be sold or let, in consequence of the dissolution of the present firm. It provided a description of the works, one biscuit oven and the various rooms. The new premises had been used in connection with the old factory adjoining, the whole forming complete works of two biscuit ovens, two glost ovens, kilns, etc. Further information could be obtained from Elijah Jones or Penman, Brown & Co, Armitage. 

Armitage Earthenware Manufactory to be sold or let. Staffordshire Sentinel , Nov. 8, 1856, p. 4. 

Armitage Pottery, Penman, Brown & Co., to be sold by auction on March 11, 1857. Manchester Weekly Times and Examiner, Feb. 21, 1857, p.8

R. H. PENMAN & CO, ARMITAGE

It is not known when the partnership of A. A. Laird and R. H. Penman was formed. It was trading under the name of R.H. Penman & Co., Armitage, manufacturers of earthenware.

Godden found a notice of dissolution of this partnership dated Dec 13, 1858. Several Journals (including The Morning Chronicle, The Daily News, The Observer and the Staffordshire Sentinel)  in January 1859 reported the dissolution.

Partnership dissolved, Laird and Penman. The Morning Chronicle, Jan. 19,  1859,  p. 7

Partnership disssolved, R. H.  Penman & Co. The Observer Jan.  24, 1859, p.4

The Staffordshire Sentinel, Jan. 22, 1859, p. 2

Penman’s wife had a son in Rugeley on Jan 27, 1859.

 In August 1859, the recently erected earthenware manufactory at Armitage, leased by R. H. Penman & Co, was advertised for sale. The lease was for 7 years from Nov 1858, surprisingly a few weeks before the dissolution of Laird and Penman!  ''  Messrs. R. H. Penman & Co, who are carrying on an extensive and flourishing business...''    So the firm was still active in August 1859. The detailed description of the Works is well worth reproducing in extenso.   

The Staffordshire Sentinel, Aug 6, 1859, p. 8, advertising the sale by auction of the Armitage Earthenware Manufactory, leased from Nov. 11, 1858,  by R. H. Penman & Co. 

There is some uncorroborated statement that ‘’ Penman’s works were bought by Josiah Spode (the third), of nearby Hawkesyard Park, who had it demolished.’’ (The Litchfield Mercury, Dec. 25, 1953, p. 7 )

R. H. PENMAN & CO, GLASGOW

It is known that R. H. Penman then moved to Glasgow, as early as 1860 according to Fleming.  Quail’s study (May 1976) revealed that Penman bought part of the premises, 295 Dobbies Loan, Glasgow, from Geo. Smith. ‘’ It was not until 1860 that Robert H. Penman obtained part of the premises from Smith and proceeded to manufacture pottery. Penman named the works the Armitage Pottery 'and traded under the style of R.H. Penman & Co, but within a year the name Osley Pottery was assumed with the address of 295, Dobbies Loan. ‘’

In March 1861, Penman is advertising Encaustic Ornamented Tiles by T.  & R. Boote (as their sole agents for Scotland) and his own Sanitary Goods. (Herald Glasgow Ed., March 27, 1861, p. 1)

Penman's wife had a son on June 14, 1861, as reported in the Herald Glasgow Ed. The address is then given as 19 Wilson Street, Hillhead, a suburb of Glasgow.  Another son was born on November 20, 1862, at the same address. When a third son, Thomas Swan Penman, died in Feb1867, aged 4 years and 3 months, the address was 79 Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow.

Penman formed a partnership under the name R. H. Penman & Co, operating a pottery in Dobbie Loan, Glasgow, known as Osley Pottery. The Pottery, ‘’ presently possessed by Messrs. R. H. Penman & Co,,…’’ was to be sold by Public Roup on May 7, 1862.  (The Herald Glasgow Edition, March 24, 1862, p. 3).

Several references were made to R. H. Penman & Co, Osley Pottery, for the years 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, notably concerning their contributions to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.  Here is one of many ads confirming the name of the firm at Osley Pottery, Glasgow. (Herald Glasgow Ed. Sept. 23, 1863)

As of Janurary 13, 1865, the partnership is dissolved (The Herald Glasgow Edition, Jan 16, 1865, p. 2).  On that occasion, the names of the partners were given as  Robt. H. Penman, John W. Oslear and Joseph Brown.

As indicated in the notice above, R . H. Penman continued for a while the business on his own account. The firm R. H. Penman & Co, Osley Pottery, still active in March 1866, made another donation to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. 

PENMAN & SMITH

There is some confusion about the status of Penman in 1867. Quail claimed that Penman sold the Osley Pottery to David Smith in 1867 and disappeared from the records.  ‘’He (Smith) retained the name of Osley Pottery, and traded under the title of D. Smith & Co.’’

On the other hand, Kelly stated :  ‘’ In 1867, Penman changed his address, and the Pottery appears in the post Office Directory as D. Smith, jun. & Co, though still as The Osley Pottery’’.

Were Penman & Smith associates for a while in the Osley Pottery? Some documents, recently found, suggest that this was the case.  In May 1867, Penman & Smith, Potters, Osley Pottery, executed a Trust Conveyance of their whole Estates in favor of the accountant George M’Farlane, on behoof of their creditors.  M’Farlane sent accordingly a notice to debtors and creditors to come forward with their claims. 

The Herald Glasgow ed June 5, 1867, p. 7

Herald Glasgow Ed. June 6, 1867. p.7

In August 1867, some stock from the Estate of Penman & Smith, Osley Pottery, was to be sold  by auction.  This was of special concern to Plumbers and others . Again there is a specific reference to Penman & Smith. 

Herald Glasgow Ed. Aug 26, p. 7  and Aug. 30, 1867., p.7. 

The last occurrence found of the name R. H. Penman (same one?) in the newspapers is in Sept 1868:  his youngest son died on Sept 14, 1868 (Herald Glasgow Ed, Sept 16, 1868, p. 5).  On August 21, 1900, Janet Russel, widow of Robert Hedderwick Penman, of Glasgow and New York, died at Kingsbridge, New York (Birmingham Weekly Post, Sept 8, 1900, p. 23).

CONCLUSION

This study relied heavily on the Newspapers of the time. By recording official acts such as birth, death, partnership dissolutions, bankruptcy, sales of manufactures, auctions, or donations, they provided irrefutable traces of activities of R. H. Penman and his various associates from 1851 to 1867.

 Rectifying some statements by Godden and others about Penman, Brown & Co, it was  established that this firm was active in Armitage, c.1854-1856.  At the Osley Pottery, Glasgow, Penman and associates used the firm’s name R . H. Penman & Co. until at least 1865.

More activities of Robert H. Penman and his various associates have been documented here for the first time, going back to 1851 in Armitage, and up to 1867 in Glasgow. In the latter year, the entity of Penman & Smith was briefly alluded to by the Trustee of their Estate.

As for the history of the Armitage Old Pottery after the year 1867, one may consult  the Litchfield Mercury  of Dec. 25, 1953,  p. 7. 

REFERENCES 

Dieringer, Ernie & Bev., The Illustrated Guide of White Ironstone China from  A to Z, WICA pub.

Fleming, J. Arnold, Scottish Pottery, Maclehose, Jackson & Co, Glasgow, 1923 .

Godden, Geoffrey A. Godden's Guide to Ironstone Stone and granite Wares. Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1999,

Kelly, Henry E., Scottish Ceramics, Schiffer Book, Atglen, PA, 1999 

Kowalsky, Arnold & Dorothy E., Encyclopedia of Marks on American , English and European Earthenware, Ironstone and Stoneware, 1780-1980, Schiffer Book, Atglen, PA, 1999

Quail, Gerald, Osley or North British Pottery, Newsletter no 7, Scottish Pottery Society , August 1976, p. 16-18. 

Schine, Denise, New Discovery: Tomato Shape ( Penman, Brown & Co.), White Ironstone Notes (WIN), Vol. 30, No.2, October 2025, p. 18