Earthenware manufacturers, originally (1862 to 1867) at the Central Pottery, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, then at the earthenware department of the Hill Pottery also in Burslem and then in 1899 they moved to the purpose built Middleport Pottery. 

NOTE: Sometimes back-stamps and adverts state "Established 1851". As a matter of fact the Burgess & Leigh business was established in 1862. 
It was Hulme and Booth - the predecessor company at the Central Pottery who started operation in 1851. 

Frederick Burgess

William Leigh

courtesy: Burleigh

• The partners were William Leigh and Frederick Rathbone Burgess who started manufacturing in 1862 at the Central Pottery, Burslem. 

• In 1868 manufacturing was moved to the nearby Hill Pottery. 

• In 1889 the business moved to the newly constructed Middleport pottery alongside the Trent & Mersey Canal. The Middleport Pottery was widely recognised as the "Model Pottery" in the Staffordshire pottery industry. It was designed to make all production processes more efficient and to improve greatly the working conditions of its workers. With its 3 biscuit and 4 glost bottle ovens, the factory was known locally as the "Seven Oven Works".

• William Leigh died in 1889 during the building of the new factory - his son, Edmund Leigh became a partner in his father's place. 

• Frederick R Burgess died in 1895 - the business continued under their sons, Edmund Leigh and Richard Burgess.

• 1912 On the death of Richard Burgess the business became solely owned by the Leigh family.

• The company was incorporated in 1919 - the name being changed to Burgess and Leigh Ltd.

• Charlotte Rhead worked as a designer for Burgess and Leigh from 1926 until 1931. 

• Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War there were around 500 workers employed at the Pottery.

• Firing started to be moved to electric kilns and 1949 The four glost ovens were demolished. In 1965 Two of the biscuit ovens were removed, leaving one biscuit oven standing.

• Burgess & Leigh remained open during the Second World War under the Wartime Concentration Scheme - they were permitted to produce undecorated domestic ware. As restrictions were eased in 1945 they were granted a licence to produce 'fancies' for the home market. 

• In 1951 the joint managing directors were listed as A. Kingsley Leigh and E. Denis Leigh. By 1956 E. Denis Leigh was listed as sole managing director.

• August 1979 both the works and the remaining bottle oven were given a grade II* listing. 

• 1999 the pottery was rescued from the receiver by William and Rosemary Dorling, and run as a going concern as Burgess, Dorling and Leigh, or Burleigh Pottery. 

• In July 2010 Burleigh Pottery was acquired by Denby Holdings Limited, the parent company of Denby Pottery.

• In 2011 Re-Form Heritage (an independent Stoke-on-Trent based charity) acquired the Middleport pottery buildings and through a mixture of public and private funding (including the Princes Trust) it was restored by the charity and opened to the public in 2014 as a heritage attraction and creative business centre. 

• The Burleigh pottery manufacturing business is a separate entity. 

Links: Burleigh Pottery    |    Visit the Middleport Works

this 1907 advert shows the four glost ovens to the right (demolished 1949) and the three biscuit ovens (two demolished in 1965) - one was left standing as the base of it formed part of the factory wall. 

Port Street

 

Burgess & Leigh, general earthenware manufacturers, Middleport Pottery 

Albion Street ran at right angles to Port Street (where the Middleport Pottery was located) - it was renamed Harper Street in the mid 1950s. 

a number of the Victorian terraced houses in Harper Street have been renovated by  Re-Form Heritage to provide  a heritage attraction and exhibition to complement the Middleport Pottery. 

The Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review - November 1950

Pottery Gazette Reference Book - 1951

Hill Pottery
B & L

'FRUIT' is the pattern name

1868-89

- more on aesthetic patterns - 

Hill Pottery
B & L

'NORMAN' is the pattern name

23 June 1882 

Warwick Savage
Wedgwood Printing Works
Burslem

1893 article on Warwick Savage

Photos of Wedgwood Printing Works

Burleigh Ware
Semi Porcelain England
Burgess & Leigh
Middleport Pottery
Burslem

'Hamilton' is the pattern name

the registration number 588773 shows that the pattern was registered in 1911

variations of the marks used on this pattern

- more on Imari style patterns - 

B & L Ltd
England

'Old Derby' is the pattern name

the name was chosen to give an illusion of
connection to the Derby Porcelain Works who were noted for their quality Imari style patterns 

c. 1919

Burleigh Ware
Burgess & Leigh Ltd
Est 1851
Burslem
England
Ironstone

the registration diamond shows that this pattern was registered on the 23 June 1882 

impressed year of manufacture - 1885  

Marks with HILL POTTERY are from the 1868 to 1889 period when Burgess & Leigh occupied the earthenware department of the Hill Pottery. The name of the pattern is generally included. 

Samuel Alcock, who rebuild and enlarged the Hill Works in 1839, used marks which included a printed or impressed bee hive mark - the beehive was often used as a picture of industry and cooperation.

The Hill Works were subsequently used by a series of potters and some of them used a bee or beehive mark.

Middleport Pottery
B & L
Burleigh Ware 

the ‘Burleigh’ brand name was  
introduced in 1903 

Middleport Pottery
B & L
PAXTON

'PAXTON' is the pattern name - the number 485142 shows that the pattern was registered in 1906 

Burleigh Ware
Burgess & Leigh
Middleport Pottery
Burslem
Semi-Porcelain England

'Rosette'' is the pattern name - the number 588776 shows that this pattern was registered in 1911 

Burleigh Ware
Burgess & Leigh
Burslem
England

'Premier' is the pattern name - the number 657114 shows that this pattern was registered in 1916

Burleigh Ware
Estd 1851
B & L Ltd
Made in England

1930's 

Burleigh Ware
Burgess & Leigh Ltd
Estd 1851
Burslem England

c. 1940+ 

Burleigh Ware
Burgess & Leigh Ltd
Estd 1851
Burslem England

c. 1940+ 

the letter 'B' probably indicates that the ware was made under the Wartime Concentration Scheme 

NOTE: Sometimes back-stamps and adverts state "Established 1851". As a matter of fact the Burgess & Leigh business was established in 1862. 
It was Hulme and Booth - the predecessor company at the Central Pottery who started operation in 1851.   

B & L initials in script format - mark introduced in the 1930s and in continuous use thereafter

The initials B. D. L. or name Burgess, Dorling & Leigh are from the 2000 to 2010 period.