Craftsman who is aiming to keep his pipe dream alive
IT IS an art form which has all but died out.
Clay pipes used to be widely used across the country but very few people possess the skills to make them these days.
Oliver Meeson, from Newport, Shropshire, says he has had a lifelong interest in arts and crafts but a chance meeting led him to making clay pipes.
And he says he wants to ensure the craft does not die out completely.
He said: “Having a lifelong interest in history and a background in art, through an accidental introduction to pipe making and learning of its decline I was inspired to learn the craft of clay tobacco making and thereby hopefully ensure this aspect of social history is not forgotten.”
He specialises in making traditional 19th century tobacco clay pipes using original moulds and techniques. The pipes are made using white earthenware clay, fired in a kiln and then each pipe is checked and finished by hand to provide a smooth finish and ensure perfect quality.
They date back to the 16th century, or possibly even earlier. Tobacco was first brought to
England during the Tudor period. Clay pipe making began in the UK in about 1580 to 1585, probably in London, and spread across the country, springing up in the main cities and towns and especially those with access to suitable clay.
Over the next 250 years, almost every city and town and many villages had a clay pipe maker. The clay pipe industry peaked around 1700, after which snuff-taking became more popular with the upper classes, but the production of clay pipes continued and peaked again in the early-19th century. The popularity of cigarettes in the early 20th century meant production diminished.
There are now said to be only three clay pipe makers left in the UK.
They make them for film and television, re-enactments, smokers and collectors.