The PeaceHavens Project
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This site is an ongoing project involving the finding and identification of 18/19th century Russian Lead Flax Bale
& Hemp Bale Seals found in the UK.
Flax seals have the
designation
ЛД (LD) (Flax Inspection) or ДЛ
(DL)
Hemp seals have the
designation
ПД (PD)
(Hemp Inspection) or
ДП (DP)
Whereas Flax Bale seals are found primarily in the North
of England in huge quantities, over 1400 at Bentham Mills alone,
because that's where the Industrial
flax based revolution took place,
it is noticeable that the hemp seals occur randomly
throughout the length and breadth of the country in ones and twos, because
hemp bales were needed in much smaller quantities by cottage rope making
industries, and spread over a greater time span, however more hemp was exported than flax .. but
in later years hemp bales were not sealed, except from Archangel. Project
List of all known Flax and
Hemp Post Numbers on Russian Lead Seals. The information here is
derived from seals found by and submitted to the Project by metal
detectorists - and is constantly updating. *
all seals that have a * replacing a post number
are hemp seals.
*
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
325
350
375
400
425
450
1
26
51
76
101
126
151
176
201
226
251
276
301
326
351
376
401
426
451
2
27
52
77
102
127
152
177
202
227
252
277
302
327
352
377
402
427
452
3
28
53
78
103
128
153
178
203
228
253
278
303
328
353
378
403
428
453
4
29
54
79
104
129
154
179
204
229
254
279
304
329
354
379
404
429
454
5
30
55
80
105
130
155
180
205
230
255
280
305
330
355
380
405
430
455
6
31
56
81
106
131
156
181
206
231
256
281
306
331
356
381
406
431
456
7
32
57
82
107
132
157
182
207
232
257
282
307
332
357
382
407
432
457
8
33
58
83
108
133
158
183
208
233
258
283
308
333
358
383
408
433
458
9
34
59
84
109
134
159
184
209
234
259
284
309
334
359
384
409
434
459
10
35
60
85
110
135
160
185
210
235
260
285
310
335
360
385
410
435
460
11
36
61
86
111
136
161
186
211
236
261
286
311
336
361
411
436
461
12
37
62
87
112
137
162
187
212
237
262
287
312
337
362
412
437
462
13
38
63
88
113
138
163
188
213
238
263
288
313
338
363
413
438
463
14
39
64
89
114
139
164
189
214
239
264
289
314
339
364
414
439
464
15
40
65
90
115
140
165
190
215
240
265
290
315
340
365
415
440
465
16
41
66
91
116
141
166
191
216
241
266
291
316
341
366
416
441
466
17
42
67
92
117
142
167
192
217
242
267
292
317
342
367
417
442
467
18
43
68
93
118
143
168
193
218
243
268
293
318
343
368
418
443
468
19
44
69
94
119
144
169
194
219
244
269
294
319
344
369
419
444
469
20
45
70
95
120
145
170
195
220
245
270
295
320
345
370
420
445
470
21
46
71
96
121
146
171
196
221
246
271
296
321
346
371
421
446
471
22
47
72
97
122
147
172
197
222
247
272
297
322
347
372
422
447
472
23
48
73
98
123
148
173
198
223
248
273
298
323
348
373
423
448
473
24
49
74
99
124
149
174
199
224
249
274
299
324
349
374
424
449
474
Both flax and hemp were major agricultural crops in post medieval Russia. Hemp was grown in the south, and flax in the north of the region. Encyclopaedia Britannica says one of the major exports of the English Muscovy Company (founded in the second half of the 16th century) was hemp.
According to many textile sources, the archaeological record of hemp and nettle fabric is confused by the fact that archaeologists, not being able to tell hemp, nettle and flax cloth apart without chemical testing, use the term 'linen' to refer to any fabric spun and woven from vegetable fibres. (Apparently, however, Czech archaeologists call all such fabrics 'hemp'). In old paintings it is not possible to distinguish linen from hemp or nettle cloth.
Both hemp and nettle have been used to make fabric since prehistoric times, as alternatives to flax, and processed similarly to flax. Hemp, with its fibres up to 12 feet long, produces a stronger thread than flax; and nettle produces a
somewhat "finer and silkier" fabric than flax.
Hemp can be either wet retted, by immersion in water such as a pond or stream, or dew retted, by laying in the fields. Once the fibre bundles appear white, they separate from the woody core, and divide easily into individual, finer fibres for their full length. When retting is complete the stems are dried, then broken with a 'breaker'. The fibres are separated using processes known as 'Scutching' (beating), then hanckled (combed) for spinning. Much like flax.
While hemp can be harvested for either the fibre or the seeds,
it appears that hemp for fibre needs to be harvested before it goes to seed; so different plots would be allocated for fibre production than for seed. The centuries-old method of hemp textile production involves . . . Harvesting after flowering but before the seeds set, when the stems are whitening at the base and the leaves are starting to drop. The fibre content is reduced and becomes coarser toward seed formation. Where it is desired to obtain fibre and seed the male plants are first collected by hand pulling, and the female plants are left to enable the seeds to ripen.
There are lots more on hemp facts at the bottom of this page ...
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Russian Hemp Bale Seals Identified
From our academic researcher Paul Cannon ..
Here is a contemporary reference to what is probably a lead seal attached to hemp. It is from a document in the National Archives: from Robert Thornton, hemp merchant of Mark Lane. Receipt of letter from the Portsmouth Officers complaining of the heat in the delivery of hemp. Hemp or flax delivered in the summer season will always be very hot. The Prospero, Captain Adam Rigden, is delivering hemp which will doubtless be very hot. He has never known a Ropemaker complain of the quality of the hemp and his hemp meets his contract so he asks that the Ropemaker should check the quality and that his ships should be immediately unloaded. The hemp has been well cured otherwise it would not have passed the Baraak at Riga, which is proved by the mark on the roundels. The document is dated 7 July 1732. If the marked ‘roundels’ are indeed lead seals then this date is close to the earliest dated seal so far recovered of 1737 for St Petersburg. Riga is specifically referred to and I wonder if they are the plain crossed keys type. If so, then some of these at least, may be earlier than has been assumed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ged Dodd adds that ... None of these Riga seals have an inscription stating whether they are hemp or flax ... and all known hemp seals carry the notation SPB or CПБ meaning tax paid to St Petersburg .. but I contend this notation was a State Controlled Area used for all hemp bales regardless of the port of dispatch .. which may have been via Konigsberg, Kronstadt, Libnau, Memel, Narva, Pernau, Reval, Riga, St Petersburg, Windau or Tilsit.
- - - - - - - - - - -
The following is another contemporary reference to the sealing of hemp from Paul Cannon. Under ‘Hemp’ in Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts and Manufactures, Charles Tomlinson (1854) [see
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433087555417;view=1up;seq=42 p15]
is the following: “……… and the work of sorting it into qualities and making it up into bundles is performed by sworn agents called brackers, and by binders appointed by the government. To every bundle of hemp thus assorted there is attached a ticket with the names of the selector, binder and owner, and the date and year. Every bundle has also a lead seal affixed to it, on which is stamped the selector’s name on one side, and the sort of hemp and the time of selection on the other.” From the above reference Tomlinson seems to be suggesting that by 1854, the bundles were labelled in two ways at the same time with:
1. a ticket with the names of the selector, binder and owner, and the date and year and
2. a lead seal affixed to it, on which is stamped the selector’s name on one side, and the sort of hemp and the time of selection on the other.
What the ‘ticket’ was made of is not recorded but I am reminded of another contemporary reference of 1805, which recorded the use of a ‘wooden tally’ inside hemp bales. Seehttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gJ8TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=
rakitzer&source=bl&ots=L-hYsst8dF&sig=jYIgQSGAOspXcPj5_4znTyHcdHk&hl=
en&sa=X&ei=F-tXVLajMcHH7AbOzoDQCw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=tally&f=false
The footnote at the bottom of page 195 records “*Some articles are stamped; for instance, the casks with Tallow and Oil; Flax with a lead tally annexed by a string;Hemp in the inside of the bales by a wooden tally, with the bracker’s name thereon.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ged Dodd adds that
only Archangel continued to brack the hemp with lead seals after the 1840's as faith in the quality of the hemp from the Baltic ports collapsed after frequent complaints by merchants. Wooden tallies have yet to be found in the UK ..
Russian Flax Exports in tons
Russian Hemp Exports in tons
Date
St.SB
Riga
Flax seals
before 1829
are stamped
NP, WK, WU
regardless of
port of export
Date
St.PB
Riga
Hemp seals
from 1740
to 1828 are
SPB, SP
regardless of
port of export
1825
7,324
23,701
1825
32,367
11,828
1826
7,432
23,383
1826
29,339
10,415
1827
11,192
24,758
1827
30,397
11,587
1828
10,884
21,377
1828
29,157
11,156
1829 6,685 24,394 All flax seals
from 1829
are stamped
SPB or CПБ
regardless of port of export1829 16,387 10,487 Hemp seals
from 1829 are
H._1, or 2,
ПEH.1, 2, or 3
always with ПД
or PiLPD's
1830 9,365 19,807 1830 21,673 12,360 1831 4,774 18,195 1831 24,678 11,833 1832 8,472 20,533 1832 29,136 13,838 1833 5,589 25,474 1833 31,582 11,797
It is obvious from the tables that St Petersburg exported more hemp than flax and by the
same token Riga exported more flax than hemp .. giving StPB the major role for hemp.
|
|
(Note:- Normally SPB seals after 1829 are flax seals
with 10,000 more flax than hemp)
SPB = state control used for all hemp seals at all ports
from 1829 with
ПД on
the obverse.
ПД = Penkovy Dosmotr = Hemp
Inspector with grading as П._1 or
П._2 grade hemp..
or ПИЛПД
=
PiLPD = Hemp and Flax Dockside Inspector with a
grading
such
as ЛЗ2H (LZ2H)
where LZ are the Agents initials and 2H is 2nd Sort Tow (Heide).
obverse
ПД
БНЕВЪ
Ho.33
Hemp must be ПД = PD
or ПИЛПД
=
PiLPD
ПД
= PD = Penkovy
Dosmotr = Hemp Inspector total name
Z.BEROBNEV
(Ъ is end of name).
Ho.33 = N33 = the post number.
reverse
SPB
SPB = Used for some hemp from 1829 by all ports.
H._1 = H.1 = Grade 1 Hemp.
I.C.
(I.S.)
= initials of previous Grower/Owner/Agent 1836 =
date of inspection, grading or "brack". Notes:-
variations are numerous.
Rule
6 - Deciphering
SPB Hemp Seals 1829 - 1850 ..
З.БЕРО
З.БЕРО =
Z.BERO (first
part of the name).
БНЕВЪ =
BNEV (second part
of the name).
H._1
I.C.
1836
Later hemp seals have ПД = hemp inspector or ДП on rare occasions.
"Ged's Hemp Seal Rules" For
seals having ПД
= PD = hemp inspection on
the obverse.
ПД
= PD could also mean
Portovy Dosmotr (Dockside
Inspection) but it can only mean
Hemp
and besides that all PD
(Dockside Inspection) seals are
proving to be hemp seals.
Rule 1
these lead hemp seals it must have a four letter hemp designation
on the reverse..
SPB hemp seals
have ПД
= hemp inspector .. their name .. and post number with
SPB (St Petersburg) .. Grower/Owner/Agent initials (AK) and RH
(Rein Hemp) and date.
IDS 10
ПД = PD
T.KOЛПAKOB
(T.KOLPAKOV)
H30 SPB AKRH
1799
30
post
(Rein
Hemp) There are many examples of
SPB Rein hemp seal with
ПД = hemp inspector
AЧRH, AГRH, AKRH, BKRH, BORH, CCRH, CHRH, CKFRH, CУRH, CZRH, DHRH,
PH is Pass Hemp ...
very short hemp but clean and free of woody particles
AЧPH, AHPH, AШPH, CFPH, CHPH, CIFPH, ECPH, EKPH, FWPH, HKPH, HПPH, HШPH, IHPH, IWPH, JHPH, KKPH, LGKPH, NKPH, ?WPH,
Some hemp seals have initial combinations other than those ending in RH
(Rein Hemp) AKA?,
ANRHC, ANRA, ARHN, BHAO, BKAH, CЧPI, ДШIH, ГБ.IH,
ГФKH,
Hemp seals with (LC, LZ) ЛЗIH, ЛЗ2H, ЛЗ3H could be
Rule
lead hemp seals it must be confirmed
with a grading of H._1, H._2, H._3,
first, second
and third grade hemp on the reverse of the seal above the
Grower/Owner/Agent initials.
Note: H._1, H._2, H._3
with SPB are all hemp seals
but similar looking HoП._1,
HoП._2,
HoП._3, with
CПБ or SPB are all flax seals IDS 28
ПД = PD
И.M.BAУЛИHЪ
(I.M.VAULIN)
H21
SPB
H._2 I.H
1833
21
post
(hemp) IDS 136
ПД = PD
Л.CИЗA?EBЬ
(L.SIZA?EV)
H85 SPB H._1 I.S. 1838 85
post (hemp) 1811 w
ПД = PD
H.CEЛИHЬ
(N.SELIN)
* SPB
ДШ1H
1811
*
post
1st grade or sort
(hemp)
see also Rule 4
Rule 4
of SPB lead hemp seals it
must be confirmed with two letters, a single number 1,2 or 3
and a
final letter (usually N) on the reverse.
(Numbers 6, 9, 12 refer to flax seals)
SPB
hemp seals with
ПД
= hemp inspector ..their name .. and post
number with
SPB
(St Petersburg) / Grower/Owner/Agent initials (EB)
..1N = 1st sort / date.
IDS 196
ПД=PD
E.CBИHЬИH (E.SVIN'IN) H??
SPB
EB1N
1798
IN is
number 1
1st grade or sort
PiLPD (ПИЛПД) seals
were introduced in 1829 to cater for
the lack of faith in the old grading. These seals can be hemp or flax.
PiLPD (ПИЛПД)
= Penkovy i L'nyanoy Portovy Dosmotr
= Hemp and Flax Port Inspector or "Dockside Inspectors."
obverse
ПИЛПД
УШKИH
H9
ПИЛПД =
PiLPD =
total name = P.KALTUSHKIN
reverse
CПБ
CПБ = and SPB used with PiLPD by all ports.
ЛЗ (LZ)
= initials of the previous Grower/Owner/Agent 2Н
= 2nd Sort or Tow (Heide) 1833 =
date of inspection, grading or "brack". reverse
SPB
SPB
= and CПБ used with PiLPD by all ports.
ЛЗ (LZ)
= initials of the previous Grower/Owner/Agent 1Н
= 1st Sort or Tow (Heide) 1819 =
date of inspection, grading or "brack".
Known PiLPD Seals initial reference number date location initials inspector # grade area FK 49 CUPMS: 1999.52.32 1833 NE Fife Mus PLPD
N.Selin 1
FK2H
SPB (hemp) ICB 89 CUPMS: 1999.53.22 1833 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin
3
ICBN2
CПБ
ICB
141 CUPMS 1999.54.32
183-
NE Fife Mus
PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin 3
ICBN2
SPB ICB 28 DUN:AH 2005-16.10 1831 Dundee PiLPD
F.Sukhorukov 6
ICBN2
SPB ICB 8 LCM: 90.36/12 1836 Lancaster PiLPD
F.Sukhorukov 6
ICBN2
SPB ЛЗ 221 CUPMS 1999.57.6 1831 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
R.Shustov 5
ЛЗ2H
CПБ (hemp) ЛЗ 50 CUPMS:
1999.52.33 1832 NE Fife Mus PLPD
?.Selin 1
ЛЗ2H
CПБ (hemp)
ЛЗ
85 CUPMS 1999.53.18
1831
NE.Fife
PiLPD
M.Kaltushkin 2
ЛЗ1H
CПБ (hemp)
ЛЗ
IDS589
1833
Durham
PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin 9
ЛЗ2H
CПБ (hemp) ЛЗ 30
DUN:AHH2005-16.12 1831 Dundee PiLPD
F.Sukhorukov 6
ЛЗ2H
CПБ (hemp) ПШ 1829 KH01 1829 Kinghorn PiLPD
?.Kaltushkin ??
ПШ2H
SPB (hemp) ПШ 1848 C01 1849 Bentham PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin 3
ПШ2H
CПБ (hemp) ПШ 84 CUPMS: 1999.53.17 1833 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
V.Gorbunov 4
ПШ2H
SPB (hemp) ПШ 86 CUPMS: 1999.53.19 1833 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin 9
ПШ2H
CПБ (hemp) ПШ 51 CUPMS: 1999.52.34 1841 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
I.Sheravskoi
3
ПШ2H
CПБ (hemp) ПШ 204 CUPMS 1999.56.8 1832 NE Fife Mus PLPD
N.Selin 1
ПШ2H
CПБ (hemp) ПШ IDS 1064 1835 Springfield PiLPD
P.Shustov 5
ПШ2H
CПБ (hemp) ПШ 143 CUPMS
1999.54.34 1835 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
F.Sukhorukov 6
ПШ2H
SPB (hemp) ?H 87 CUPMS: 1999.53.20 1838 NE Fife Mus PiLPD
D.Selin 9 ?H2H
SPB (hemp)
(some ДA, ДB, ДИ, ДII, ДM are
also hemp seals ... and also flax seals).
?CRH, ECRH,
ERRH, FKRH, FMRH, FWRH, GKRH, HCRH, HЧRH, HHRH,
HPRH, H-PRH, HSRH, HШRH, IBRH, ICRH,
ICZRH, IHRH, IMRH, IPRH,
IRRH, ISRH, ИЧRH, KGRH, MMRH, PBRH, PFRH, PMRH, ПSRH, RH,
TBRH,
TKRH, TLRH, TNRH, ?FRH, ?GRH, ?HRH, ?MRH, ?ORH, ?SRH
HCRI, ICZAH, IBIH, IK:IH, IKIИ, IMAH, IMБR, IOБHH, ISAH, ЛЗIH, MCEI,
MPAH, ПШIH, ПWAH, PKIN, SPHB,
SRHB, TBIH,
TBIN, THAH, TLAH,
TNAH, ?ШAH, WSAH, ?MZIR
Lihuanian Czuken which is as Rein Hemp but less oily and soft.
Rule 3)
Every SPB seal with
a
* (instead of post number) is a Hemp Seal
Rule
5)
Deciphering
PiLPD Seals
1829 - 1841.
П.KAЛT
П.KAЛT
= P.KALT (first line of name)
ЛЗ2H
1833
ЛЗ1H
1819
FK
282 JS193
1839
JS
PiLPD
M.Kaltushkin
2
FK2H
SPB (hemp)
FK
9 FALKM 2002.43.03
1833
Falkirk
PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin
3
FK2H
SPB (hemp)
FK
8 FALKM 2002.43.02
1833
Falkirk
PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin
9
FK2H
SPB (hemp)
ICB
205 CUPMS 1999.56.9
1831
NE Fife Mus
PiLPD
M.Kaltushkin
2
ICBN2
SPB
ICB
48 CUPMS 1999.52.31
1836
NE Fife Mus
PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin
3
ICBN2
SPB
ICB
52 CUPMS 1999.52.35
1839
NE Fife Mus
PiLPD
P.Kaltushkin
3
ICBN2
SPB
All the Bushev family were hemp inspectors from 1770 - 1834
Bushev (hemp) |
#171 |
Essex ECRH |
IDS480 |
1770 |
Bushev (hemp) |
#27 |
eBay PBRH |
IDS220 |
1783 |
Bushev.M (hemp) |
#23 |
4 NLA (HER) 26398 |
?SRH |
1797 |
Bushev.I.D (hemp) |
#72 |
45 JC 02 |
ИФAH |
1816 |
Bushev.I.M (hemp) |
#31 |
39 AJPC 07 |
IMBR |
182- |
Bushev.I.M (hemp) |
#314 |
3 NML. 2007.21.3 |
FWRH |
1826 |
Bushev.I.M (hemp) |
#67 |
PAS LIN-7BBEB5 H2 |
IDS494 |
1834 |
Bushev.K.D (hemp) | #179 | Powerpoint, Bridport | IDS1088 | 1822 |
Bushev.I.V is a typo in Doctor John Sullivan's book for Bushev.I.M at #314 |
---------------------------------------------------------------------
More Economic Facts on Hemp c.1800
Hemp formed an important article of export from St Petersburg and was sorted into ..
1) Clean Hemp or First Sort
2) Out Shot Hemp or Second Sort
3) Half Clean Hemp or Third Sort
and Hemp Codilla ...
As soon as the hemp is brought` down in the Spring or during the Summer it is immediately selected and made up in bundles which operations are sworn performed by selectors and binders (inspectors) appointed by the government for this purpose and it is a well known fact that this is done with great impartiality and exactness.
A bundle of clean hemp weighs from 55 to 65 poods, a bundle of Out Shot 48 to 55 poods, a bundle of half clean hemp weighs from 40 to 45 poods. Binding of hemp is paid for at the rate of 2 rubles and 50 copecs for clean, 3 rubles for out shot, and 1 ruble 50 copecs for half clean hemp per bundle, one half of which is paid by the seller and the other half by the purchaser .. charged by their agents.
The expense of selecting hemp is fifty copecs per bercovitz (10 poods) and is the same for all sorts. To every bundle of assorted hemp is attached a ticket with the names of the selector binder and owner together with the date and year.. Also to every bundle (bale) is affixed a piece of lead stamped on one side with the name of the selector (inspector) and on the other the sort of hemp and when selected.
Ref IDS 10 |
ПД = PD T.KOЛПAKOB (T.KOLPAKOV) H30 |
SPB AKRH 1799 |
30 post |
The external marks of good hemp are its being of an equal green colour and free from spills but its good quality is proved by the strength of the fibre which should be fine thin and long.
The First Sort must therefore be quite clean and free from spills, the Out Shot hemp is less so and the Half Clean hemp contains a still greater portion of spills and is of mixed qualities and colours.
As a perfect knowledge of the qualities of hemp and flax can only be acquired by experience and attention agents usually employ men constantly occupied in this business by which means they are sure of getting goods of the best quality and thereby giving satisfaction to their principals because although the hemp is selected by sworn selectors yet the quantity of business and the speed with which it must be executed often cause a great difference in the same sort .
The charges are consequently somewhat more but these are trifling in comparison to the advantage.
What is picked out in cleansing hemp is called Hemp Codilla and this is generally made up in small bundles of one pood which before shipping are bound together in one large bundle consisting of about thirty small ones.
In shipping hemp and flax particular care must be taken to do it in fine and dry weather as wet hemp would soon heat up and consequently be totally spoiled. For this reason every vessel taking in
hemp or flax is furnished with mats to prevent its getting damp and these are generally procured by and for the account of the captain. Hemp being light and bulky, when stowed, is forced into the vessel by means of winches which renders the operation of loading hemp rather slow.
It may be taken as a general rule that the prices of hemp are highest in the months of May, June, July and even in the early part of August the demand for hemp article being then greatest and the exportation to North America being principally effected at this season.
Again the prices of hemp are lowest in the month of September the reason of which is that the less opulent hemp merchants return at the end of this month to their own country in order to make new purchases for the ensuing year and therefore willingly sell the remainder of their stock some Rubbles below the market prices. This causes a general decline although a particular demand for hemp happening at that time or some political events or even rumours may no doubt produce a contrary effect . Two large warehouses called Ambares were built in St Petersburg for the special purpose of housing hemp.
63 poods make an English Ton .. whereas 60 poods of hemp and 40 poods of codilla make a "last" in St Petersburg.
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Trade
with Scandinavia and the Baltic
by
Mike Patrick
Please note this article is primarily about the HEMP trade at Topsham near Exeter
and references in this article do NOT necessarily apply to the country as a whole.
The book “Around Topsham in Old Photographs” produced by Topsham Museum Society in 1990, included photographs of inscribed stones found at Rivers-meet, Topsham. One of them, located on the north shore of the River Clyst immediately outside the high wall, which encloses Rivers-meet, commemorates trade with the Baltic. It reads “1852 to 1861 SEVERAL CARGOES OF HEMP &c. FROM THE BALTIC DISCHARGED HERE F.D.”
The initials F.D. refer to Francis Davy (1810-96), the youngest son of Robert Davy, shipbuilder of Countess Wear, who like his father, was also an iron and hemp merchant. Francis Davy built Rivers-meet House having enclosed the marshy ground on which it was built. This brief article examines the extent of the Baltic Trade with the Exe estuary. In the second half of the seventeenth century development of a trade in plantation products saw the sending of Barbados sugar to Gothenburg while in the early 1700s, two shipments of serge to Drammen and mixed cloths to Gothenburg represented attempts to provide return cargoes for vessels bringing naval supplies from the Baltic. The development of a regular trade was discouraged by high Scandinavian duties on English cloth. Baltic ports are 1,000 miles or more from Exeter, and contacts only developed because of their virtual monopoly of European supplies of naval stores and coniferous timber. Trade was almost entirely one way. A few unsuccessful attempts were made to establish woollen markets in Danzig, Drammen, Gothenburg, Archangel and St. Petersburg, but normally ships from Scandinavia and the Baltic cleared from the Exe in ballast. The Baltic timber trade was well established by 1660, four vessels entering from Norway in 1663. Trade continued on this scale in the eighteenth century, with Drammen as the principal market. There were occasional imports of linen from Archangel and hemp from St Petersburg. An important element of the import trade was represented by raw materials for the building and fitting out of vessels. In the seventeenth century pitch and tar were received from Scandinavia and hemp and flax from the Low Countries. Direct contacts with Russia for the import of hemp and flax were established by 1715 and at the end of the century Topsham was receiving two shipments annually from St Petersburg. Russian hemp and tallow were re-exported to south coast ports including Portsmouth and Falmouth. The hemp import reached 5964 hundredweights in 1827 but later fell off with the decline in shipbuilding. After 1815 Topsham began to import pitch and tar from Archangel, Riga, Stockholm and Gothenburg. During the eighteenth century bars of iron were occasionally received from Gothenburg, St Petersburg and other Baltic ports. Tallow came from St Petersburg and Archangel.
Another inscribed stone from the north shore of the River Clyst,
situated
Between 1817 and 1827 nine to sixteen vessels entered annually at Topsham. In the 1820s trade with the Baltic was dominated by Memel, Gothenburg and St Petersburg. In 1815 contacts were also established with Riga, which sent one or two annual shipments of flax, hemp, pitch, tar and timber.
Similar cargoes came from Archangel. After 1850 a considerable expansion in the timber trade took place. Twenty-five vessels entered from Norway and Sweden in 1872, and these two countries contributed a major share of the large timber import of this period. 1876 saw the import of 12,716 loads#, mainly of fir timber, more than four times as much as in 1840. The trade was now controlled by Russia, Norway and Sweden. Close commercial connections were maintained with the Baltic until the end of the nineteenth century. The overseas timber trade used vessels of over 100 tons. Even in the seventeenth century vessels of over 150 tons were employed in the Norwegian trade and by the nineteenth century it became common to see vessels of 300-700 tons. The majority of timber cargoes were discharged in the Bight and carried up to Topsham or the canal entrance by raft or lighter. In 1838, 19 out of 20 visiting timber vessels discharged in the lower waters of the estuary. The estuary’s timber trade was now controlled by Topsham which handled 1599 loads out of the 1995 loads received in 1849. By 1849, while Exeter dominated the overseas trade of the estuary, Topsham continued to handle the major part of the timber and hemp imports from the Baltic, which was mainly for its own shipyards. Some small import of foodstuffs from the Baltic took place in the 1870s, when wheat and Barley arrived from Russia. It is unlikely that the inscribed stones pictured above were positioned to commemorate goods landed at Rivers-meet and it is interesting to speculate on their original or intended location.
[The material in this brief summary is largely drawn from the excellent book “The Ports of the Exe Estuary” by E.A.G. Clark, published by The University of Exeter (1960 and reprinted 1968).]
Additionally, Mike did some research on the 18th-19th century woollen cloth trade in the vicinity and while looking at the
letters of a Lisbon merchant who imported Devon cloth, Mike noted that he was also involved in the importation of hemp
from St. Petersburg to Lisbon in October 1835, using the ship WOLGA, under the command of Captain Tuleff.
Morning Advertiser - Thursday 26 November 1835 - ARRIVALS: LISBON - Oct. 10, Wolga, Tuleff, from St Petersburg].
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In July 1807 Napoleon I of France and Csar Alexander I of Russia signed the Treaties of Tilsit in the town of Tilsit. This treaty ended war between Imperial Russia and the French Empire and began an alliance between the two empires that rendered the rest of continental Europe almost powerless. The two countries secretly agreed to aid each other in disputes. The treaty created an alliance between Russia, France, Prussia, Denmark, and others forcing them to break all ties, trade and commerce, with England in an attempt to isolate England from Russia. Russia was one of the international main exporters, they dominated the international hemp trade and hemp was England’s most vital commodity with Russia supplying 90 percent. England was the top international importer of hemp. The flourishing Russian economy and stable hemp trade between England and Russia was a very powerful imminent threat to Napoleons France. Through the Treaties of Tilsit Napoleon tried to gain control of the international hemp trade and market. Although the treaty was signed by both parties, the Czar could not enforce the treaty and Russia didn't keep his promise because most of their economy depended on the trade with Britain so the clandestine trade with Britain continued to flourish.. they say money talks .. promises walk ..
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