production of honest soaps that make clean in many a washtub.
In his younger days he knew the difficulties of procuring
more suitable materials than rough fat and soda got from the
ashes of seaweed, etc. But 'tis a far cry to kelp burning
and rudimentary processes, and now the purest of refined animal
and vegetable oils combine with snow-white alkali to make
a model cleanser for cottage or castle, for dye work or tweed
mill.
" Knowledge grows from more to more. " For centuries
there has been seen waste, here and elsewhere. Glycerine is
a by-product of hard-soap making, but only comparatively recently
has its true value been ascertained and every effort made
to extract and use it. The latest addition to the establishment
is a glycerine recovery plant, and now every day Samson's
famous riddle is solved and reversed, as " out of the
strong comes forth sweetness, " and out of the sweetness
comes forth strength, for what is more powerful than dynamite
and the other explosives to the making of which much of this
glycerine goes?
THE PATERSONS.
Previous to the occupancy of Mr Mellis, the brothers Messrs
William and Thomas Paterson conducted the soap works, and
carried on a very large trade for a long series of years.
Even at that period the output was about 90, 000 lbs. of hard
soap per annum.
When writing of soap, we may mention that the use of paraffin
as a great help on washing day was brought under notice by
a worthy Prestonpans lady, Mrs William Taylor, Dovecot, in
a letter to the Scotsman, and many have reaped where
she has sowed.
BELFIELD'S POTTERY.
This has been from its beginning, and continues to be, one
of the most flourishing factories in the parish. Its originator,
Mr Charles Belfield, was grandfather to the brothers now conducting
the business. He came from the pottery districts of Derbyshire
about the beginning of the present century, at the instigation
of the Earl of Stair, to conduct certain branches of pottery
work in a manufactory on his estate at Cousland, near Dalkeith.
From there he migrated to Prestonpans, and worked in Gordon's
pottery till its close.
In 1832 Charles and his eldest son James opened these premises
as potters, towards the west end of Prestonpans. They were
among the first to make " white " or " sanitary
ware " in Scotland, and so famous did their " white
ware " from the old sea-side village become, that before
long there was scarcely a firm of plumbers in Edinburgh or
Leith but had their name flourishing in the order books of
the Belfields.
Shortly afterwards they added to their already extensive business
the manufacture of Rockingham teapots. These now, and for
years past, are being dispatched over the whole habitable
globe. There is a large staff of men and boys continually
engaged in this very delicate handicraft.
Some time previous to 1852 the manufacture of drain pipes,
etc., was added to the other branches of industry carried
on here, and during that year Mr Charles Belfield invented
a system of hand-pressing pipes, but unfortunately the inventor
neglected to secure his discovery by patent. The secret was
all too soon disclosed to other firms; steam power was applied
and the original idea further developed, but it did not add
to the wealth or fame of the inventor. Prior to this these
pipes were all thrown or spun upon a potter's wheel. They
were, as a rule, fifteen inches long, narrow at the one end
and wide at the other so that they could easily fit into each
other, for the faucet, or flange, had not yet come into general
use. A great many of these pipes were sent at one time into
Forfarshire for the purpose of conveying water supplies to
towns. They were extensively used in Prestonpans not only
for drainage purposes but were actually used for a time as
gas pipes. Some time ago quite a number turned up when modern
gas pipes were being laid in the streets of the village.
These premises, previous to being turned into a pottery, were
occupied by one Laidlaw, who was a manufacturer of salt, etc.,
there. He was also a manufacturer of magnesia on the same
premises. |
