From a drawing by W P. Herdman, in the Liverpool Free Public Library.
IT was in honour of Sir William Brown, who gave the building of the Free Public Library and Museum to the town, that the name of Shaw’s Brow was changed to William Brown Street. Previous to its widening, the street was a steep, narrow, tortuous way, forming one of the outlets of the town by way of Dale Street.
Not far from the Great Heath, early in the eighteenth century Samuel Shaw had a pottery works. They were situated near the lower cast end of the north side of Dale Street, extending from Fontenoy Street nearly to Trueman Street. As his business grew the works probably extended across the Pool to the Great Heath, on which Shaw's Brow was situated. Samuel Shaw was succeeded by his son Thomas Shaw, and Mr. William Chaffers in his book Pottery and Porcelain states definitely that “Alderman Thomas Shaw had a bank for making pottery, situated at Shaw’s Brow,” and undoubtedly Shaw's Brow was named after him, although his main works were at the old address. Alderman Thomas Shaw was a clever potter and a successful business man, besides taking an active interest in the welfare of his town, of which he was an alderman and mayor. He died in February 1779.
Richard Chaffers, the most famous of all the Liverpool potters, served his apprenticeship with Alderman Thomas Shaw. Mr. Chaffers, like Mr. Shawr, resided in Dale Street, having his manufactory on the north side of Shaw’s Brow, and his moulding houses on the site of Islington Terrace. He took John and Samuel Liveley's business premises, the site of which is now occupied by a portion of the William Brown Museum. Mr. Chaffers was born in Mersey Street, Liverpool, in 1731, dying a young man in 1765, and sleeps in the old churchyard of St. Nicholas.
After Chaffers’ death Seth Pennington carried on his business at the same address, becoming famous for his punch bowls, which were generally painted in blue, with large shipping subjects.
Philip Christian also had an extensive business in the manufacture of porcelain, on this celebrated site.
Shaw’s Brow was also famous for a well of water, and in the Weekly Advertiser of November 17, 1758, there is an advertisement offering the water for sale at ninepence per butt. The proprietor was a certain Mr. Parker, who declares the water to be soft, and most excellent for washing, and boiling peas.
This illustration shows the street in the year 1855.
Links to Related Material
Bibliography
Muir, Ramsay, et al. Bygone Liverpool. Liverpool: Young, 1913. Internet Archive online version of a copy in the University of Toronto Library. Web. 29 September 2022.
Last modified 3 October 2022