Brannam Pottery was a British studio pottery firm started by Thomas Backway Brannam in Barnstaple in 1848.

Thomas Brannam took over the lease of an existing pottery at North Walk, Barnstaple. Like other pottery firms of the time the firm original made utilitarian wares such as floor tiles, bricks and sewage pipes. Thomas became particularly successful in the production of sgraffito pottery and one of his jugs secured a medal at the Great Exhibition in 1851. In 1853 he also purchased another pottery in Litchdon Street, Barnstaple.

In 1867 Thomas's son, Charles Hubert Brannam, left school to start work at the pottery aged 12. Charles was very artistic. He had won a prize for art at school and also won the Queen's Prize for Drawing in 1870. He became educated in the theory and practice of ceramics. Charles was encouraged by a local dignitary Mr William Frederick Rock who invited him to London where he studied pottery in the various museums. In 1879 he persuaded his father to allow him to produce art ware. Charles took over the Litchdon Street pottery and developed the art pottery department. He recruited skilled designers but also continued to throw the ware himself. In 1885 he received an order from Queen Victoria and this resulted in excellent publicity for the business. In 1886 Charles registered the name Royal Barum Ware and ensured it was sold in London.

Charles handed the business over to his sons Charles William Brannam and John Woolacott (Jack) Brannam in 1913. In 1914 CH Brannam and Sons became a limited company. Jack's son Peter carried out considerable modernisation in the post-war period but when he retired in 1979 he sold the business to Candy Tiles of Newton Abbot. They found the old Litchdon Street premises too cramped in and 1989 moved the company to its present site on the Roundswell Industrial Estate. CH Brannam and Sons Ltd ceased operations in 2005.

The company has used many marks over the years including C H Brannam, Castle, Barum, and Barnstaple.

The company's collection of ceramic works was purchased by the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon with the help of the Art Fund.^[1]

[edit] References

• Brannam Pottery
• Brannam's Pottery

[edit] External links

• Works from Brannam Pottery in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa