GOVANCROFT POTTERY
The "Potteries" on London Road at Potter Street was built for the Tollcross Housing Association in the 1990s. The housing complex takes its names from Govancroft Potteries Ltd which was sited there until c. 1981. These works started in 1911 and used to produce stoneware and jolleyed ware for ginger beer, jam, ink and stout, as well as wares for the chemical industry.
After the Second World war a new tunnel kiln was installed which led to production being concentrated on jugs for the whisky industry - latterly including nearby Long John. A fire in 1954 destroyed most of the potteries, but it eventually revived. By the 1990s, the main product was the whisky flagon.
In its early days the clay was brought up the west coast in ships as ballast and was trundled out to the potteries from Queen's Dock, Princes' Dock and Shieldhall in two wheel carts. It was said that it was obvious when a new load had arrived as there was a trail of clay all the way along the route!
The following photographs were taken in 1978 and most of them have never been published before. If you have any additional information which might be included in the captions, including the names of the person shown, let me know.
Potter Street at London Road, with Govancroft to the left.
Potter Street at London Road, with Govancroft to the left.
The entrance to the pottery from London Road.
The yard at the entrance, very low lying.
The slip house operators preparing to tighten up the filter press.
Clay being extruded from the vacuum mill.
A potter having thrown a cone ball now makes a flagon.
A castor dissembling a mould to take out a cast pot.
A fettler trimming miniature and 1/6 gallon flagons.
A fettler trimming miniature and 1/6 gallon flagons.
Presser about to put a handle onto a 1/6 gallon flagon.
Glaze sprayer.
Glaze dipper.
Selector inspecting casseroles.
Mould maker with case mould before cottling and pouring.
Mould maker blending plaster.
Mould maker?
Egress door of Dressler Tunnel Kiln.
Decorator applying silk screen transfer. In the background, is a Top Hat kiln.
Wares being inspected before transfers fired on in the Top Hat kiln.
Selectors inspecting flagons.
An old, disused roller-head jolley.
Inside the factory based sales shop.
In 2002 and exhibition of Govancroft history was presented at Paisley Museum. The two display cases of wares and some tools are shown below;
Govancroft made a surprisingly wide range off goods. Some of these are shown below, having been culled from the pages of Ebay over the years.
