Clay Tobacco Pipes from Chatham

INTRODUCTION CLAY TOBACCO PIPES FROM CHA THAM D. E. WILLIAMS Between the summer of 1978 and spring of 1979 excavations for the foundations of a new store at 220-250 High Street, Chatham, revealed at least twenty rubbish- and cess-pits. The pits ranged in date from the early eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. The fills of the pits produced a large amount of pottery and clay pipes. It is hoped that the pottery, which includes a number of important items, will be published at a later date. The site was part of the Manor of Chatham, which was sold and broken up for development upon the expiry of a twenty-one-year lease in 1621. Although early seventeenth-century pipes were present as rubbish survivals no pits of this period were found. Those that had existed were probably close to the High Street and subject to disturbance from eighteenth-century building activity. My thanks are due to the landowners, Philips and Pye Pension Fund, to Messrs. Deacon Construction Ltd., the site manager, Mr. B. Hesleden and to the general foreman, Mr. P. Rooney, for their cooperation. Last but not least I am grateful for the practical assistance of our members, Beverley Williams, Paul Hayes and Percy Payne. TIIE PIPES Fig. 1. 1. From Pit 14 (filled c. 1710) as a rubbish survival. Similar to London type 51 , c. 1610-1640. The base of the spur is stamped with a cross within a circle. In relief on either side of the stem are crude representations of a cross and a fleur-de-lis. 1 D. Atkinson and A. Oswald, 'London Clay Tobacco Pipes', Joum. Arch. Assoc .. J'd. Series, xxxii (1969). 231 t\t􀀄􀀅􀀆􀀇:􀀈􀀉:::41 6 D. E. WILLIAMS Fig. I. Clay Tobacco Pipes (Scale: ½) 232 CLAY TOBACCO PIPES FROM CHATHAM 2. From Pit 14. London type 21, c. 1680-1710. Initials 'W.T.' on the spur, probably a London pipemaker, at present unidentified. 3. From Pit 14. London type 22, c. 1680-1710. Also marked 'W.T.' 4. From Pit 14. An early London type 25, c. 1710-1720. Marked 'W.T.' In addition to the initials, either side of the spur is stamped with a crown. Evidence from London suggests this feature is an indication of a London origin 2 • Pipes of the latter type and marked 'W. T.' were found in Pit 2 with pottery to c. 1730, Pit 3 with pottery similar to Pit 2; and Pit 6 with pottery contemporary with Pit 14. Pit 6 and Pit 14 were situated in the rear of the 'Fountain Inn' and were in use at the same time, fragments from the same pot having been found in both pits. 5. From Pit 14. London type 22. Anonymous. Rouletting on the stem. 6. Part of a stem from Pit 14, decorated with an impressed diamond pattern. 7. Part of a twisted stem from Pit 14. 8. From Pit 8 (filled c. 1810). A fragment of a large, thick-sided bowl, difficult to place typologically. Well-moulded motif of a lion rampant reguardant, apparently a supporter of a coat of arms. The front of the bowl features a shield containing a diagonal key. The spur is marked on one side by a small shield divided by a cross, with a pellet in each quarter. The base of the spur is marked with a squirrel. 9. From Pit 8. A well moulded, thick-walled bowl. Moulded on to the back of the bowl is a pseudo-Royal coat of arms, possibly meant to be Hanoverian, supported by a lion rampant guardant. The arms are encircled by the motto: 'HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE'. Below the motto is part of an inscription: 'VIVA T . . . ANIE'. The second word is incomplete and seems meaningless. 10. U nstratified. Common standard south-eastern type of the eighteenth century. The thickness of the stem and bowl decreases as the century moves on. This example is late, i.e. 1750-1770. The bowl is moulded with the Prince ofWales's feathers and the motto: 'ICH DIEN'. Marked on the spur 'I.I.', probably John Johnson, Gravesend, c. 1763-1797. 11. From Pit 18 with pottery to c. 1780. London type 27. Spur marked 'T.W.' Thomas Webb, Rochester, c. 1780. 12. From Pit 18. Similar to London type 26. Bowl moulded with crude arms and supporters. Spur marked 'T.W.' Thomas Webb, Rochester, c. 1780. 2 ibid., 204. 233 D. E. WILLIAMS 13. From Pit 18. A thin brittle bowl embossed with fluting. Spur marked 'T.W.' Thomas Webb, Rochester, c. 1780. 14. Unstratified. Similar to London type 27. Bowl decorated with Prince of Wales's feathers and motto: 'ICH DIEN'. Spur marked 'H.G.' Howe Green, Rochester, c. 1761-1780. 15. From Pit 7 (devoid of pottery). London type 26. Marked on the spur 'G.B.' and stamped on the back of the bowl 'G. BIRCHALL'. George Birchall, Chatham, c. 1800-1840. In both Finch's Directory (1803) and Holden's Directory (1811)3 is the following entry: 'BIRCHALL, PIPEMAKER, RICHARD STREET'. Although no initial is given in either entry the Birchall referred to is probably George Birchall, who can be found listed in the Chatham Poor-Rate Book for 1822 as: 'George Birchall and Pipehouse'. The pipes discovered on the site initialled 'G.B.' or stamped 'G. BIRCHALL' and dated to the beginning of the nineteenth century from their typology, i.e. no. 15, also support this identification. 16. From Pit 10. A 'w􀂠ster'. London type 27. Initials on the spur and stamp on the back of the bowl identical to no. 15. Nos. 17, 19 and 20 are also 'wasters' and by the same maker. Pit 10 was really a sha!Jow dump of pipemaker's waste and the pipes were embedded in a six-inch-thick layer of soft pipe-clay. From the clay, fragments of ninety-three separate pipes were recovered. Eighty-eight were by George Birchall and consisted of London types 26, c. 1760-1800, 27, c. 1780-1820 and 28, c. I 8 I 0-1840. Three of the remaining five pipes were marked· on the spur 'J.H.' and resemble London type 28 but are probably later. Two were of London type 30, c. 1850-1910 and were marked on the stem 'HAWLEY/CHATHAM'. (Fig. 2, no. 30). A few feet from Pit 10 was a deeper pit (Pit 11). This contained fifty-four 'waster' pipes mixed with pipe-clay. Thirty-three of the pipes were by J. Hawley and twenty-one by George Birchall. The typology of these pipes corresponds with those from Pit 10. The two pits were situated in the rear of no. 218 High Street, which was formerly the site of an inn. Up to the year 1882 the inn was known as 'The Dartmouth Arms' and from 1858 to 1877 a certain John Hawley was the landlord.4 It, therefore, appears that Hawley followed a dual occupation as inn-keeper and pipemaker. It is not clear how 'waster' pipes of apparently widely differing dates came to be associated in the two pits. Although George Birchall lived a few yards away in Richard Street, there is no 3 Chatham Public Library. 4 F. Sanders, Business History of Chatham High Street from 1838, vol. 3 (1962). (Copy in Chatham Public Library). 234 CLAY TOBACCO PIPES FROM CHATHAM evidence for John Hawley's presence on the site before 1858, by which time George Birchall is no longer recorded and was probably dead. It should be noted, however, that another Birchall pipemaker, Charles, also lived in Richard Street and is recorded up to 1847. 5 17. From Pit 10 (also present in Pit 11). London type 26. Marked on the spur 'G.B.' and around the rim of the bowl 'BIRCHALL CHATHAM'. The bowl is decorated with Masonic emblems. George Birchall, Chatham, c. 1800-1840. 18. Unstratified. Similar to Oswald's type l l b,6 c. 1820-1840. The bowl is decorated with masts, sails, flags, anchors and cannonballs. Marked around the rim of the bowl 'BIRCHALL CHATHAM'. The initials on the spur, however, are 'T.H.'. Apparently a Birchall mould taken over by 'T.H.', who at present is unidentified. 19. From Pit l 0 (also in Pit 11 ). London type 28. Marked on the spur 'G.B.' and around the rim of the bowl 'BIRCHALL CHATHAM'. The bowl is embossed with fluting and dots and the stem with oak leaves and acorns. George Birchall, Chatham, c. 1800-1840. 20. From Pit 10 (also in Pit l 1). London type 28. Marked 'G.B.' on the spur and 'G. BIRCHALL/CHATHAM' on the stem. The bowl is decorated with Masonic emblems. George Birchall, Chatham, c. 1800-1840. 21. Found in the filled-in cellar of the immediate predecessor of the present 'Fountain Inn'. London type 28. Marked on the spur 'C.B.'. Probably Charles Birchall, Chatham, c. 1822-1847. Fig. 2. 22. From the construction-trench of a cess-ptt m the rear of the 'Fountain Inn'. A forward drooping bowl, decorated with oakleaves. Marked on the spur 'G.P.' George Phillips, Chatham, c. 1847. Oswald7 lists a 'J. Phillips' at this date, the initial probably being a mis-reading for 'G'. 23. Found with no. 22. Forward drooping bowl, decorated with fluting and dots. Marked on the spur 'P.S.'. Probably Peter Styles, Chatham, c. 1822. 24. Found with no. 21. Similar to London type 29, c. 1840-1880. Bowl decorated with a Spread Eagle, possibly connected with a public house. Marked on the spur 'S.F.'. Either Samuel French, Chatham, c. 1838, or Samuel Finch, Chatham, c. 1847. 5 Bagshaw, Directory, (1847) (Copy in Rochester Museum). 6 A. Oswald, Clay Pipes for the Archaeologist, Brit. Arch. Reports, No. 14. (1975). 7 ibid., 176. 235 29 D. E. WILLIAMS ., ... "": 􀀇􀀈- 􀀉 . . • • ' i 2 2 ··.:. 􀀏3' -􀀐4 __ 􀀑 2 5 35 36 37 3􀀊 \}39 􀀂) 40 , .... , •.... 􀀏-- -- 􀀊 ) ; C\.􀀐'----::-::::- ============= u D42 Fig. 2. Clay Tobacco Pipes (Scale:¼) 236 CLAY TOBACCO PIPES FROM CHATHAM 25. Unstratified. A fluted bowl, c. 1840. Marked on the spur 'W.G.'. May be a London pipemaker. 8 26. Found with nos. 21 and 24. Bowl decorated with leaves growing from the spur. Marked on the spur 'G.P.' George Phillips, Chatham, c. 1847. 27. Found with nos. 21, 24 and 26. Fluted bowl with leaves growing from the spur and oak-leaves along the stem. Marked on the spur 'G.P.' and on the stem 'G. PHILLI PS/CHATHAM'. George Phillips, Chatham, c. 1847. 28. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26 and 27. A ribbed bowl with large leaves at the base.M arked on the stem 'G.B. ...' and on the opposite side ' ... ESS'. George Brisely, Sheerness, c. 1850. 29. Unstratified. Similar to London type 28. Rather thick-walled bowl. Marked on the spur 'l.H.' and on the back of the bowl 'HAWLEY'. John Hawley, Chatham, c. 1858-1877. Fragments of this type were found in Pits I 0 and 11. 30. From Pit 10. London type 30. A plain bowl with a fierce looking lion moulded on to the stem. Marked on the stem 'H .. .' and on the opposite side' ... M'. John Hawley, Chatham, c. 1858-1877. 31. From Pit 11. London type 30. A plain bowl with a dog moulded on to the stem. Marked on the stem 'HAWLEY/CHATHAM'. John Hawley, Chatham, c. 1858-1877. 32. From Pit 11. London type 30. Stem is moulded with a rowing boat complete with rower. The length of this pipe when complete was approximately 4½ in. Stem marked 'HAWLEY/CHATHAM'. 33. From Pit 10. Part of the stem is in the form of a soldier taking aim, using the rest of the stem as an oversize rifle. An identical pipe taken away from the site was marked on the stem 'HAWLEY /CHATHAM'. 34. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27 and 28. London type 29. Fluted bowl with leaves. The spur is marked with three horizontal bands. 35. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28 and 34. London type 30. A ribbed bowl. Anonymous. · 36. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27; 28, 34 and 35. London type 30. Fluted bowl. Anonymous. 37. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35 and 36. London type 30. Bowl decorated with a foul anchor and sailing vessel on billowing waves. Possibly connected with a public house. 38. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36 and 37. London type 30. Fluted bowl. Anonymous. 39. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. London type 30. Anonymous. A copy of the briar pipe. 8 ibid., 137. 237 D. E. WILLIAMS 40. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39. Irish type, post-1840. Very thick-walled bowl, decorated with an open palm and a heart. 41. Found with nos. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40. Irish type, post-1840. Very thick-walled bowl stamped with an harp and town of origin 'CORK'. 42. Unstratified. London type 30. Anonymous. Length four inches. The following initialled pipes, which are not illustrated, were also recovered from the site. The pits are listed in order of excavation. Pit 1. With pottery to c. 1760. Late London type 25. Thin-walled bowl and thin stem. Spur marked 'I.M.' James or Joseph Milsom, Rochester, c. 1750. Pit 2. Several early London type 25. Spurs marked 'I.H. '. Some initials are surmounted by a crown and are probably of a London origin. 9 It is possible that some examples are by John Hads, Strood, c. 1712. Early London type 25. Spur marked 'M.T.' Matthew Turner, London, c. 1704. Pit 3. 'I.H.' Identical to Pit 2. Pit 5. 'I.H.' Identical to Pits 2 and 3. Pit 6. Early London type 25. Spur marked 'T.W.'. 10 Pit 8. Late London type 25. Spur marked 'R.P.' (one pipe with crowned initials). Robert Pattison, London, c. 1755. Richard Pinkard, London, c. 1761. 'I.M.' Identical to Pit l . Pit 10. London type 28 or 29. Fluted bowl. Marked on spur 'W.W.' William Wells, Sittingbourne, c. 1845. Pit 12. London type 28. Masonic decoration on the bowl. Spur Marked 'R.J.' Rueben Jennings, Chatham, c. 1831. London type 29. Marked on spur 'H.H.' H. Hunt, Chatham, c. 1847. 'Fountain' cellar. A stem marked 'ANDERSON/ ROCHESTER'. Joseph Anderson, c. 1839-1851 or R. Anderson, c. 1850. Pit 14. Early London type 25. Marked on spur 'G.P.'. Either George Powell or George Porter, both London, c. 1696. Pit 15. London type 22. Marked on spur 'M.C.' Michael Coleman, London, c. 1665 or Mary Cooper, London, c. 1712-1714. '1.H.' Identical to Pits 2, 3 and 5. 'M.T.' Identical to Pit 2. 9 Atkinson and Oswald, op. cit., 204. There are several pipemakers in London initialled 'I.H.' at this period. It is also possible that some of the pipes relate to John Holloway, Chatham, c. 1684. 10 ibid., 216. 238 CLAY TOBACCO PIPES FROM CHATHAM Pit 18. Late London type 25. Marked on spur 'I.H.' John Halls, Rochester, c. 1771. 'J.M.' Identical to Pits 1 and 8. Late London type 25. Marked on spur 'I.C.' James Cutbush, Strood, c. 1760, or John Cornes, Rochester, c. 1795. Late London type 25. Marked on spur 'D.W.' Daniel Woodhouse, Rochester, c. 1741-1771. 'T.W.' Identical to Pit 6. Early London type 25. Marked on spur 'H.C.' Henry Corderoy, London, c. 1713. 'M.T.' Identical to Pits 2 and 15. APPENDIX A chronological list of pipemakers of the Medway Towns. I.T. James Thompson, Strood, c. 1657. I.H. John Holloway, Chatham, c. 1684. D.R. Daniel Remvant, Rochester, c. 1684. T.K. Thomas Kipps, Rochester, c. 1689. E.E. Edward Evans, Rochester, d. 1702. I.S. James Sutton, Rochester, d. 1707. I.H. John Hads, Strood, c. 1712. I.P. John Phillips, Rochester, c. 1712. W.D. William Danby, Rochester, d. 1715. T.G. Thomas Gosling, Chatham, c. 1724. I.L. Joseph Libon, Rochester, c. 1741. D.W. Daniel Woodhouse, Rochester, c. 1741-1771. C.F. Christopher Foy, Rochester, c. 1749. I.M. Joseph Milsom, Rochester, c. 1750. J.M. James Milsom, Rochester, c. 1751. G.S. George Spenland, Rochester, c. 1751. I.C. James Cutbush, Strood, c. 1758-1761. P.D. P. Dodson, Strood, c. 1758. H.G. Howe Green, Rochester, c. 1761-1780. C.H. Christopher Hads, Rochester, c. 1771. I.H. John Halls, Rochester, c. 1771. I.S. John Sloper, Rochester, c. 1771. T.W. Thomas Webb, Rochester, c. 1780. I.C. John Cornes, Rochester, c. 1795. G.B. George Birchall, Chatham, c. 1800--1840. C.B. Charles Birchall, Chatham, c. 1822-1847. P.S. Peter Styles, Chatham, c. 1822. J.S. J. Smith, Chatham, c. 1825. T.C. Thomas Clifford, Chatham, c. 1831. R.J. Rueben Jennings, Chatham, c. 1831. 239 D. E. WILLIAMS S.F. Samuel French, Chatham, c. 1838. J.A. Joseph Anderson, Rochester, c. 1839-1851. C.P. C. Philley, Chatham, c. 1840. J.W. J. Winyard, Chatham, c. 1840. G.C. George Chambers, Strood, c. 1847. S.F. Samuel Finch, Chatham, c. 1847. H.H. H. Hunt, Chatham, c. 1847. G.P. George Phillips, Chatham, c. 1847. R.A. R. Anderson, Rochester, c. 1850. J.H. John Hawley, Chatham, c. 1858-1877. R.H. Richard Hinkins, Snr., Chatham, c. 1880-1920. C.L. Charles Leach, Rochester, c. 1904. R.H. Richard Hinkins, Jnr., Chatham, c. 1908-1940. 240