Ulster American Folkpark : Collections : Ireland : Crafts : Clay Pipes : Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland

Clay Pipes

Clay pipes have been manufactured for over four hundred years. They are one of the most common objects of the past to be found in archaeological digs and ploughed fields.

There was a clay-pipe works in Belfast in 1812, situated in Winetavern Street, then called Pipe Lane.

The clay which was used to make these pipes came from Devonshire and was white in colour.The clay was kneaded and rolled roughly into the size and form of a pipe. An iron needle was then inserted into the stem and the bowl end roughly bent into position. The clay was pressed into an iron mould and the whole lot passed through a press. The bowl of the pipe was hollowed out using a 'stopper'. The rough upper part of the bowl was cut off clean while still in the mould. The pipe was then removed from the mould and any roughness trimmed off by girls using a knife. If the weather was good the pipes were laid out in the sun for partial drying, after which they were carefully packed in 'saggers', the stems pointing towards the centre and inclined downwards. These 'saggers' were placed in a kiln and heated for hours.

The pipes from the Belfast works were sent to all parts of Ulster. The perishable nature of clay pipes made the demand for them enormous. An average of four may have been used by a smoker in any one week.

The woman pipe-smoker was common in Ireland. It was felt that the fumigatory effects of tobacco were valuable. Sick animals were thought to be cured by having tobacco smoke blown up their nostrils.

The conflict between smoker and non-smoker developed early. The anti-smoking lobby had influential leaders including two Popes, Urban VII and Innocent XII who were prepared to excommunicate smokers. In the 1600's some countries forbade smoking under pain of death. In Russia a smoker's nose might be cut off. These methods had little effect. What hope can there be for 'Government Health Warnings'?

The introduction of the briar in the late nineteenth century sounded the death knell of pipes made from clay. The industry declined steadily and the cigarette became popular.

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ULSTER AMERICANFOLK PARK

Clay Pipes

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