Josiah Spode III born on August 22nd 1777. He was the second son of
Josiah Spode II and the last of the Spode family to be directly involved with the famous Spode pottery manufactory. It seems that although his father and siblings were in London running the Spode business he came back to Stoke at a young age to go to school and perhaps 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.
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| Obituary 'Staffordshire Advertiser' 1829 |
In his mid-twenties tragedy struck again when Spode III was involved in what would be described today as an 'industrial accident' at the family factory in Stoke. The excitement of the planning, purchase and installation of a modern, brand new steam engine from Boulton & Watt, in 1802, must still have been fresh a year later when a 'lamentable accident' occurred resulting in the 'immediate amputation' of Spode III's arm.
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, Josiah Spode II, in 1827, he came out of retirement and ran the business. Sadly this was for just a couple of years until his own death.
He died in 1829 at his home,
The Mount, not far from the Spode factory, at the age of 52.
If you are confused about all these Josiah Spodes click
here.
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| The Spode family tombs, Stoke Minster, restored by the Spode company c2000 |
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| The Spode family tombs: detail of Spode II (left) and his son Spode III (right), Stoke Minster |
A line drawing by Neville Malkin is shown here of
The Mount built by Spode II in 1803/1804. The fine house also features on a Spode vase which is in the
V & A collection.
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| The Mount, Penkhull |
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| Vase featuring The Mount, V & A |
As ever thanks to
Peter Roden for his detailed, accurate Spode family research, without which I would be lost. More on my
booklist.
