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Rare bedpans shown at private pottery exhibition

Alice Cunningham & Wayne Bavin
BBC News, East of England
Mary Jacobs Mary Jacobs smiles while standing next to Julie Stevenson. Mary is looking away from the camera and is wearing a white blouse. She has short grey hair and is wearing glasses. Julie is smiling as she looks at the camera while holding a bedpan. She is wearing a floral blouse and has long blonde hair and glasses.Mary Jacobs
Mary Jacobs (left) got to see her former Shelley bedpans within Julie Stevenson's (right) collection during a private exhibition

A bedpan collector said it was "lovely" to see two of her rarest finds included in a private exhibition in a cathedral.

Mary Jacobs, 77, from Newmarket, Suffolk began collecting bedpans in 1984 eventually ending up with 163.

She decided last year to sell them and sold two made by Shelley - a renowned Staffordshire pottery - to Julie Stevenson, 54, from Peterborough who collects this pottery.

Mrs Stevenson held a private exhibition of her Shelley collection at Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday where she invited Mrs Jacobs to come and see her former bedpans.

Julie Stevenson Julie Stevenson, in a yellow top and black cardigan is pictured holding a bedpan she has bought from Mary Jacobs, who stands to her right wearing a white shirt with red details.Julie Stevenson
Mrs Stevenson previously bought two Shelley bedpans from Mrs Jacobs

"It was a private viewing - they are all private collections so you can't go and visit them," Mrs Jacobs explained.

"It was lovely to see two of them again... it's unusual that the bedpans are plain white with writing on them.

"Most of the Shelley collections that Julie had were all coloured and different designs."

Shelley closed in 1966 and it is believed the two bedpans date back to 1931.

Julie Stevenson A pottery jug which has painted on it King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.Julie Stevenson
Part of Mrs Stevenson's collection included a jug from 1911 that depicted Katherine of Aragon on it

Mrs Stevenson, who is also a Peterborough councillor, explained her exhibition was for the official collectors group, The UK Shelley China Group.

Eighteen of the group were in attendance from across the region as well as the Mayor of Peterborough and several councillors.

"I came upon the idea of hiring a space at the cathedral to highlight a selection of pieces from my private collection after realising I have a few bits that specifically tie in with the venue," Mrs Stevenson said.

Within her collection of about 1,200 items, Mrs Stevenson has a jug from 1911 with an illustration of Katherine of Aragon who is buried at the cathedral as well as a 1920s ginger jar decorated with pomegranates that were Katherine of Aragon's symbol.

Luke Deal/BBC Mary Jacobs with some of her collection of bedpans that rest on a kitchen table. Luke Deal/BBC
Mrs Jacobs previously said she loved the way bedpans can differ in shapes and sizes

"The cathedral team went above and beyond to ensure we had a lovely afternoon. I cannot thank them enough," Mrs Stevenson said.

"It was wonderful to see Mary again and to show her how her slipper pans fit in with my collection, and for her to meet other pottery enthusiasts."

Mrs Jacobs sold the majority of the rest of her bedpans to a collector in the United States.

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