The final years at Usk
The Usk works continued to flourish until the turn of the 19th century when Edward Allgood died. Edward Allgood had outlived his brother Thomas and his nephew Thomas. Upon his death, the works passed into the possession of John Hughes, then John Pyrke and finally to Evan Jones in around 1826, who found it very difficult to compete with the cheaper metal and papier-mache Japanware of the midlands. He moved the business to the back of his retail shop in Bridge St and reduced the scale and method of production. Trade dwindled, particularly after the introduction of electro-plating. The business ceased trading on Evan Jones' death in 1860 and the remaining stock was auctioned in 1862.