Maker unable to solve mystery over Shrewsbury tea set
It was a tea set bought at a car boot sale and decorated with images of Shrewsbury – although its new owner has no idea who made it or why.
But now, following an appeal in the Shropshire Star, Jeremy Hawkey has the answer to one of his questions.
However, he still needs help to solve the other.
Mr Hawkey, from Cross Houses, Shrewsbury, bought the tea service at a car boot sale in Cheshire in the autumn.
He contacted the Shropshire Star to try to find out where it was made and why.
And now he has discovered the set was one of 250 produced by a porcelain factory in Canterbury.
"I am really pleased I have managed to find out which factory made it," said Mr Hawkey. "I still haven't found out why it was made or why such a low number were produced."
After the story appeared in the Shropshire Star and on the paper's website, Mr Hawkey was contacted by a lady from Telford who told him she also had a set, but hers showed scenes from Donnington.
"She told me her set was made by Decor Art Creations in Canterbury as the name was painted on the bottom of her service unlike mine, which doesn't have such a mark.
But hers was dated 1998 while on mine it was 2001."
Mr Hawkey got in touch with Decor Art Creations, a company which specialises in handpainted glassware and porcelain, and was able to find out a little more about the service, which comprises six trios of cup, saucer and side plate.
Each plate shows a different Shrewsbury town centre landmark – St Julian's and St Alkmund's churches, St Chad's, Shrewsbury Castle, Clive's statue in Market Square, Old Market Hall and Princess Street, the library, and Ireland's Mansion.
"They told me it retailed for around £160 at the time but there is no apparent reason why it was made. Nothing happened in either 1998 or 2001 in the Telford and Shrewsbury areas. I was able to see the original drawings for the service, which was interesting, but again shed no light on why they were made. But it has been very interesting to find out some more of the history of the service."
If anyone knows any more about the history of the tea set Mr Hawkey can be contacted on 07889 643371.
