John Geddes

The Verreville glass house was built in 1777, in Glasgow. In 1806 the business was sold to Dumbarton Glass Work Company, who immediately resold it to John Geddes. While there is some discussion as to the date at which pottery was first made at Verreville, there is no disputing that Geddes was responsible for building an effective pottery and developing a thriving export trade including building an active market in North America.  The pottery produced a range of earthen wares including lusterwares, sponged, and painted designs and a number of blue printed earthenware patterns although only one American scene has been recorded. 

Geddes’ son, William, married the daughter of A. G. Kidston of the nearby Lancefield Pottery where he worked until 1827 before being taken into partnership by his father at the Verreville works. However, the company was struggling financially by 1830 and despite the best efforts of John Geddes’ son-in-law Robert Montgomery, who took control of production, he, John and William Geddes were bankrupt by 1835. William Kidston then bought the factory and the business went out of the Geddes family.[i]

[i]  See George Haggarty, 2007, The Verreville Pottery Glasgow. CD-Rom  and at http://repository.nms.ac.uk/324/1/304_-_Ceramic_resource_5_-_Lancefield_...