Gibbs and Canning

Gibbs and Canning Ltd was a terracotta works at Glascote, Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK. It produced a wide range of wares including pipes, bricks, sinks, vases and jars. When it finally closed the site was cleared and a housing estate built on parts of the grounds. There is now very little evidence left of the buildings, railways, clay and coal pits.

I am researching the works, with the emphasis being on the architectural terracotta. This was used in many famous buildings, and was used to good effect all over the world. Local examples appear on even humble buildings such as terraced houses and local shops.

Details will be added to this page gradually, as research progresses. Information about any aspect of the factory and the architecture will be gratefully received. This could include

	details of people who worked there
	what they did and what they made
	details of archives which can be consulted, which refer to Gibbs and Canning
	details of buildings with Gibbs and Canning terracotta
	information about artifacts which survive (I would dearly love to own a piece of Gibbs and Canning ware, no matter how humble)

Can you name any of the mystery works below, or help with their location?
if you have any information on Gibbs and Canning please contact me at
angellastreluk@cirrus.me.uk

Where was this charming lady destined for? In this picture she is still at the factory.

This statue still survives at the Sacred Heart RC Church, Aston. However a second Piece was said to have been made for ‘Hilton Wolverhampton RC / retreat or nunnery’. I have yet to discover where this is or was.

Several pieces of a large frieze of Merchant of Venice were made. Copies were retrieved from the factory grounds when it closed. Where did the original frieze go to? The friezes were large, each about one metre across.

My humble collection has now started after Alan bought me four items from a England and lock auction on 30th January 2003 at Leamington Spa. If you know anything about my items I would be interested to hear from you.

	The moulded tile is clearly marked Gibbs and Canning of Tamworth. The Art Nouveau tile has no marking. It has a piped design filled with mottled colours. Have you seen them used anywhere?
	This tiny bird baths (13cm high) have Gibbs and Canning and Tamworth around the base. The archives show that they were ashtrays for architects at Christmas.
	This mustard pot is stamped rather than imprinted. It is a super little example of how food was packaged.
	This 'rum jar' was dug up from a battlefield in Belgium. It is in amazingly good condition. It is another example of how items were dispatched round the world.
	This charming canister bears the imprinted mark of Gibbs and Canning. It has an embossed pattern separating the two colours.

The information has been sorted onto several pages to help reduce the amount on each page. These pages are -

Buildings A - B
Buildings C - E
Buildings F - K
Buildings L
Buildings M - Z
Buildings in Tamworth
Other Gibbs and Canning Products

Many thanks to people who have contacted me with information. Anybody with information can add to this collection by contacting Angella Streluk at angellastreluk@cirrus.me.uk