David Higgins | University of Liverpool (original) (raw)

Books by David Higgins

Some Clay Pipe From Cheshire and Merseyside, 1987

This is a collection of clay tobacco pipe reports from archaeological projects undertaken in the ... more This is a collection of clay tobacco pipe reports from archaeological projects undertaken in the Cheshire and Merseyside areas of England between 1979 and 1982. Reports on material from seven sites are included, with material ranging from the early seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries in date. Illustrations of more than 140 pipes, many of them marked or decorated, are included. These provide a useful reference point for pipes from the north west of England as well as including some imported pieces, such as eighteenth century decorated stems from the Midlands or Gambier pipes from Givet in France. The sites included in this volume are at Sandbach, Church Lawton, Middlewich, Tatton, Warrington, Liverpool and Bromborough.

Papers by David Higgins

Excavations at Chester: 25 Bridge Street 2001 – Two Thousand Years of Urban Life in Microcosm, 2008

Chester was one of the most important production places for clay tobacco pipes in the UK, with ex... more Chester was one of the most important production places for clay tobacco pipes in the UK, with exports having been found across England as well as all along the eastern seaboard of America from from Newfoundland to the Caribbean. The 25 Bridge Street excavations produced 5,570 fragments of pipe, making it one of the largest groups to have been recovered from the city. This study identified numerous previously unrecorded makers marks, adding considerably the corpus published in 1980. The assemblage is notable for the very early pipes of c1580-1610 recovered, as well as for the recovery of a complete seventeenth century pipe, and another near complete example. Clay and stone marbles and hair curlers are also included in the report.

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter, 2021

This study takes a single seventeenth century marked clay tobacco pipe from Shropshire and places... more This study takes a single seventeenth century marked clay tobacco pipe from Shropshire and places it within its broader context to reveal something of the complex trading patterns that radiated out from
the Broseley / Much Wenlock area at this period. This not only shows how important it is to record these isolated finds from rural areas, but also how interconnected these places were with distant markets during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. This case study shows the potential for using pipes to examine the origins and development
of small-scale manufacturing during the Post-Medieval period and demonstrates the importance of recording marked pipes from across broad geographic areas so as to enable detailed regional or national studies.

Tutbury: 'A Castle Firmly Built': Archaeological and historical investigations at Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire, 2011

This is an important assemblage of pipes since most were deposited during English Civil War activ... more This is an important assemblage of pipes since most were deposited during English Civil War activity in the 1640's. They provide a considerable amount of evidence in relation to both the archaeology of the castle and in relation to the south Staffordshire pipe industry. The majority of the mid 17th-century pipe
fragments were found within the inner bailey, with a less
dense concentration in the outer bailey, perhaps suggesting
the focus of Civil War activity on the site. The pipes themselves exhibit marked regional characteristics, suggesting that a well-established local industry had already
emerged by the 1640s. Lichfield appears to have been a
regionally important production centre at this time and the
majority of the marked pipes can be attributed to makers
there. Some of the marks found at Tutbury have also been
recorded from Dudley Castle and there is great potential for
comparing the as yet unpublished Civil War assemblages
from Dudley and Stafford Castles to see what light this
sheds on the supply of goods and movement of troops across
the region during this period.
Although Lichfield could be identified as an important
supply source, only around 10% of the pipes were marked
and the bulk of the Tutbury pipes were probably obtained
from more local manufacturers. In particular, there was one
manufacturer producing very poor quality pipes who was
almost certainly operating locally, since the pipes from just
one mould accounted for nearly a third of all the pipes being used on the site. The low quality of the pipes themselves
also hints at the social and economic ramifications of the
war. The identification of pipes produced in individual
moulds and workshops allows characteristics such as the
use of milling and burnishing to be seen in context and
demonstrates the importance of detailed finds analysis in
interpreting archaeological material from closely dated
assemblages such as this.

Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society, 2003

This site produced one of the largest pipe assemblages recovered from Plymouth for many years. De... more This site produced one of the largest pipe assemblages recovered from Plymouth for many years. Despite the evidence for mid-17th-century reclamation of the area, pipes of this period were very poorly represented. The later 17th- to early 18th-century pipes,
however, provided a good sample of local products, including a small but important kiln group, showing the locally produced Plymouth styles of the 1670s and 1680s. In general, the pipes of this period were of average to poor quality and unmarked. The use of burnishing had been discontinued and the rim finish was often a plain groove rather than
being milled. The most common form was a sharply biconical bowl, which appears to be characteristic of Plymouth, but other forms were also being produced, including export styles for the trans-Atlantic trade. The later 17th- and early 18th-century finds primarily consisted of a distinctive West Country form that was used over large areas of the South West. The finishing techniques, however, show that subtle differences can be identified, distinguishing production in Plymouth from that of neighbouring centres, such as Launceston. The later finds are dominated by an early C19th kiln assemblage from Rowe's workshop. This is one of the best assemblages of its date from Britain and shows the range of products being offered by this maker. Rowe does not seem to have been a particularly prominent maker and cannot even be traced in the documentary sources. He was one of a number of manufacturers working in Plymouth during the 1820s and operated for long enough for
some of his moulds to be altered or repaired up to four times. He appears to have had at least 20 moulds in his workshop and presumably employed a number of journeymen to help with production. Each moulder would have been expected to produce several hundred pipes in a day and so, although this seems a large sample, it represents only a very small of fraction of the pipes produced on the site. Rowe's pipes all had long curved stems and glazed tips. The designs are highly decorative and can be paralleled among designs produced along the south coast, from London and Kent to Devon. Although following national trends, the individual designs reflect local themes, and the production and repair of moulds appear to have been carried
out in Plymouth. The importance of this group lies not only in what it reveals about early 19th-century pipe production in Britain but also in illustrating the contribution that archaeology can make to our understanding of the post-medieval period. Rowe was not
previously recorded as a pipe-maker. The evidence from his workshop
waste not only sheds light on a little-studied period of the industry nationally but will also allow future groups of this period from the South-West to be placed in a much clearer context.

Journal of the Academe Internationale de la Pipe, 2018

A study of Post-Medieval trade and marketing patterns around Willaston in the north west of Engla... more A study of Post-Medieval trade and marketing patterns around Willaston in the north west of England based on evidence from a large assemblage of marked clay tobacco pipes collected during fieldwalking by Dennis Robinson. This collection is now held in the National Pipe Archive at the University of Liverpool and includes more than 1,500 marked pipes dating from c1645-1720. More than 90 different makers' names or initials are represented, showing that pipes were regularly traded up to 40 miles to reach the nearby market of Nantwich. This trade, however, was not uniform, with the majority of the pipes being sourced from two pipemaking areas of Shropshire. Conversely, locally made pipes from the Nantwich area have been found up to 70 miles away in north Wales, highlighting the complex web of trading connections that operated across England and into Wales prior to the Industrial Revolution. The bowl forms and makers marks are discussed, and more than 140 detailed die drawings are included.

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter 52, 1997

This note deals with a group of nineteenth century clay tobacco pipes that were recovered from Ba... more This note deals with a group of nineteenth century clay tobacco pipes that were recovered from Barcelona Harbour (Harbor) in Chautauqua County, New York State. These are all identical and must represent a shipment lost in transit. The pipes were probably made in Northern Europe, perhaps Germany, and reflect the international shipment of manufactured goods during this period.

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter 52, 1997

This is a list of historic clay tobacco pipe makers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, mainly drawn fr... more This is a list of historic clay tobacco pipe makers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, mainly drawn from trade directories examined at the Ulster Museum. The sources examined are described and the pipemakers listed in both name and address order. This provides an overview of the industry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter 52, 1997

Short note on a group of late seventeenth to early eighteenth century clay tobacco pipes discover... more Short note on a group of late seventeenth to early eighteenth century clay tobacco pipes discovered at the site of what is thought to be an old lead mine at Marrick, North Yorkshire, England. This group not only provides important dating evidence for this early industrial site but also sheds light on the trade and use of pipes at this period, some of which have travelled from Tyneside.

Journal of the Merseyside Archaeological Society, 1992

Restoration and underpinning of the west range of Speke Hall, a timber-framed building on Merseys... more Restoration and underpinning of the west range of Speke Hall, a timber-framed building on Merseyside owned by the National Trust, was carried out during 1981-82. This provided the opportunity for limited excavation within the standing structure which dates to c. 1540-70. The excavation provided evidence of at least three earlier phases of building on the site and located deep deposits filling a late medieval water course. These deposits were rich in artefactual and environmental material and have provided considerable information about the lifestyle of this high status household during the late 15th and first half of the 16th centuries. This is particularly valuable in a region where few excavations of medieval domestic sites have been carried out and where finds assemblages tend to be poor.

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter, 2007

Short note describing and illustrating an eighteenth century bawdy pipe clay figurine recovered f... more Short note describing and illustrating an eighteenth century bawdy pipe clay figurine recovered from archaeological excavations at Gristlehurst in Greater Manchester, England.

ARCHAEOLOGY AT THE WATERFRONT 1: INVESTIGATING LIVERPOOL'S HISTORIC DOCKS, 2014

During the late eighteenth end early nineteenth centuries Liverpool was one of the most important... more During the late eighteenth end early nineteenth centuries Liverpool was one of the most important ports in the world. Development of the waterfront during this period resulted in large quantities of artefacts being buried in closely dated deposits, and these fills included a number of dumps of clay tobacco pipe kiln waste. This paper provides an overview of pipes from archaeological excavations prior to recent redevelopment of the waterfront area and, in particular, describes a series of closely dated dumps belonging to the pipemakers William Morgan and Thomas Hayes. This allows their range of products, including specific export models, to be defined and provides accurate dating of pipes produced during the 1780s and 1790s. Liverpool pipes of this period were exported to the Baltic, across the Atlantic to North America and the Caribbean, as well as to South America and Australasia. These finds provide an internationally important benchmark for the identification and dating of Liverpool products of this period. There is also a note on the clay hair curlers (wig curlers) recovered.

Surrey Archaeological Collections, 1997

Short note describing, illustrating and providing parallels for a probable Roman buckle plate fro... more Short note describing, illustrating and providing parallels for a probable Roman buckle plate from Betchworth in Surrey, England

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter, 2016

This note deals with a Staffordshire type coiled clay tobacco pipe of late eighteenth or early ni... more This note deals with a Staffordshire type coiled clay tobacco pipe of late eighteenth or early nineteenth century date that was originally published in America in 1883, but which has recently been identified in an English collection. This enables the accuracy of the nineteenth century illustration to be compared with the actual object. The pipe was originally published by (and may well have belonged to) Edwin Attlee Barber, who was then curator of the Department of American Pottery and Porcelain at Pennsylvania Museum and later the Museum's director.

Shropshire History and Archaeology, 2004

This paper provides a brief introduction to the Shropshire pipemaking industry and its products. ... more This paper provides a brief introduction to the Shropshire pipemaking industry and its products. It shows that pipemaking was established as a new industry early in the seventeenth century and that by the end of the century significant production centres had emerged in and around Ludlow, Cleobury Mortimer, Much Wenlock, Broseley, Benthall and Wem. Some of these production centres were based in historic market towns but others emerged in developing industrial areas, where they were able to exploit the clay and coal of the Shropshire coalfields. Distinctive local styles of bowl form, finishing and mark types were developed from the mid seventeenth century onwards and these distinctive forms were not only widely traded but also influenced pipe styles and production in other centres across large parts of England and Wales. The early industry seems to have reached its peak around 1680-1720 after which production in many of these early centres appears to have suddenly collapsed. There was a fundamental shift from the use of local Coal Measure clays to finer clays imported from the West Country and production became concentrated in the parishes of Broseley and Benthall. The term 'Broseley' became synonymous with a quality long-stemmed pipe and many millions were exported from this production centre all over the world. The form and evolution of the early workshops and kilns is still poorly understood and remains a priority for future research. For the nineteenth century, however, Broseley boasts the only complete surviving pipe making complex anywhere in the country as well as an associated archive of tools and paperwork that remains to be studied in detail.

This is an archaeological report on a large group of clay tobacco pipes from the excavation of a ... more This is an archaeological report on a large group of clay tobacco pipes from the excavation of a late seventeenth to early eighteenth century pottery production site in North Wales. This provides important evidence for the local manufacture of pipes in Buckley, particularly those made by Thomas Hayes who was using styles of bowl and mark from Broseley in Shropshire. This is an important group for anyone studying pipe production and distribution in the region.

A detailed analysis of the clay tobacco pipes excavated from Big Lea Green, Sutton, Merseyside. T... more A detailed analysis of the clay tobacco pipes excavated from Big Lea Green, Sutton, Merseyside. The assemblage comprises 781 pipe fragments ranging from the seventeenth century onwards and reflecting the pipes produced and consumed in the Liverpool area of North-West England. There are some good groups of seventeenth century material, primarily from the important pipe manufacturing centre at Rainford, and a large nineteenth century deposit dating from the early 1860s. This includes imports from London, Ireland and France as well as a wide range of local products. The close dating afforded by the marks makes this an important reference group for a period where few good quality groups have been previously published in the UK.

A short note on pipe fragments from archaeological excavations near Rushen Abbey, Ballasalla, Isl... more A short note on pipe fragments from archaeological excavations near Rushen Abbey, Ballasalla, Isle of Man. The finds include a marked stem made by David Miller of Liverpool in the nineteenth century.

These "Guidelines for the Recovery and Processing of Clay Tobacco Pipes from Archaeological Proje... more These "Guidelines for the Recovery and Processing of Clay Tobacco Pipes from Archaeological Projects" are designed to provide a first point of reference for anyone undertaking archaeological work involving pipes, whether this be planning archaeological fieldwork, collecting, analysing, cataloguing and curating pipes or carrying out specific research projects on them. These guidelines have been written with particular reference to British pipes but the same principles are widely applicable to assemblages from most other parts of the world. Each section is intended to provide an overview of the topic, with general advice and pointers as to where more detailed guidance or resources can be found. The various sections are designed to enable non-specialists to undertake basic work themselves while at the same time gaining experience within broad guidelines as to ‘best practice’. They are also designed to encourage common standards amongst specialists and to enable archaeological curators and managers to assess the scope and quality of any given pipe report. A glossary has also been prepared to explain the terms and abbreviations most frequently encountered in specialist literature dealing with pipes.

Survey and archaeological excavation were undertaken at the Darien Colony, located on the Atlanti... more Survey and archaeological excavation were undertaken at the Darien
Colony, located on the Atlantic coast of Panama, in 1979 and 1985. During the course of this project considerable numbers of clay pipe bowls and stems were recovered, from contexts directly attributable to the Scottish occupation of 1698 to 1700. This paper will document these pipes and attempt to identify them with the suppliers mentioned in the Company accounts. The Darien Company papers give details of the style, price and shipment of some 282,832 pipes made by four makers during the period 1696-9. Archaeological fieldwork in Panama has identified the range of pipes in use, including specially produced 'export style' pipes, pipes of different status and personal examples belonging to the colonists. It has shown both that outdated moulds continued in production with new styles, and that the widow
of a pipemaker could effectively continue production, even creating new moulds, after her husband's death. The majority are shown to come from Edinburgh and provide a tightly dated sample of late 17th Century Scottish styles.

Some Clay Pipe From Cheshire and Merseyside, 1987

Excavations at Chester: 25 Bridge Street 2001 – Two Thousand Years of Urban Life in Microcosm, 2008

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter, 2021

Tutbury: 'A Castle Firmly Built': Archaeological and historical investigations at Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire, 2011

Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society, 2003

Journal of the Academe Internationale de la Pipe, 2018

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter 52, 1997

Journal of the Merseyside Archaeological Society, 1992

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter, 2007

ARCHAEOLOGY AT THE WATERFRONT 1: INVESTIGATING LIVERPOOL'S HISTORIC DOCKS, 2014

Surrey Archaeological Collections, 1997

Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter, 2016

Shropshire History and Archaeology, 2004

Doctoral thesis examining archaeological approaches to the recording and interpretation of clay t... more Doctoral thesis examining archaeological approaches to the recording and interpretation of clay tobacco pipes, with particular reference to the Broseley area industry of Shropshire, England. The thesis looks at a variety of attributes that can be explored from pipe fragments, such as stem length, mould types and social status as well how pipes can be reassembled. A study of museum and archaeological collections across a wide area of the West Midlands resulted in a corpus of well over 1,000 drawings, which are included in the thesis, together with a new list of Shropshire pipemakers.