Spode III was the second son of Josiah Spode II and the last of the Spode family to be directly involved with the famous Spode manufactory. It seems that although his parents and siblings were in London running the Spode business he came back to Stoke at a young age to train with his grandfather Josiah Spode I - founder of the business. It is possible this tied in with early death of his mother in 1782 when he was just a little boy.
Obituary Staffordshire Advertiser, 1829 |
Trained and accomplished in the art of potting and with experience in all parts of the business he opted to retire at quite a young age on his marriage in 1815. But on the death of father, Spode II, in 1827, he came out of retirement and ran the business for just a couple of years until his own sudden death.
He died in 1829 at his home, The Mount, not far from the Spode factory, at the age of 52.
A line drawing by Neville Malkin is shown here of The Mount built by Spode II in 1803/1804. The mansion also features on a Spode vase which is in the V & A collection.
The Mount, Penkhull |
Vase featuring The Mount, V & A |