The Ring family of Bristol,clay tobacco pipe manufacturers

Abstract

The Ring family ran two of the most important pipemaking businesses in 19th-century Bristol. This account is in three parts: Part 1 is a survey of the documentary evidence for the two companies. Ring & Cookworthy were in operation from 1802 until 1819, R. F. Ring & Co. worked under various managements from c. 1812 until c. 1884. Part 2 provides data on the export of Ring-made pipes, collected from the Bristol Presentment Books. Pipes were sent mainly to America, but also to Ireland, Spain, the Caribbean and elsewhere. Part 3 illustrates waste from their kilns found in dumps in various parts of Bristol. These groups are all dated to c. 1850.