H M Williamson & Sons

Bone china manufacturers at the Bridge Pottery Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England

Henry Mountford Williamson was born in October 1827 in the pottery town of Hanley.
He started business in 1858 as H. M. Williamson & Co, a decorator of china & earthenware at a small factory off Market Street.
At some time he was was a partner in the firm of Williamson, Turner & Co., earthenware manufacturers. In February 1872 he withdrew from that firm,
He then commenced manufacturing as H. M. Williamson & Son, "Manufacturers of Gilt China and Earthenware Waterloo Street, Longton"
In 1879 the business moved to the Bridge Pottery Works in Heathcote Road, and thus founded the business of H. M. Williamson & Sons,
The Bridge Pottery was at the junction of Cooke Street and Heathcote Road in the pottery town of Longton.
H M Williamson used a trade name "Heathcote China" - Heathcote Road took its name from Sir John Edensor Heathcote who was a local industrialist, owner of Longton Hall and in 1784 was High Sheriff of Staffordshire.
Henry M Williamson J.P., the founder of the business, was an alderman and was elected Mayor Longton in 1885 and again in 1904 when he was aged 78. (Pottery Gazette, Feb 1, 1907, p214)
"Until he was over 60 he retained entire charge of the firm’s London connection, and he continued to take an active part in the business until about twelve years ago [c.1895], when he retired." Pottery Gazette, Sept 2, 1907, p1078
Henry M Williamson died in July 1907 - "The will of the late Alderman H. M. Williamson, of Cromartie House, Florence Longton, has been proved for £10,927." (Pottery Gazette, Dec 2, 1907, p1431)
In 1941, under the wartime concentration scheme, the company was concentrated with E. Brian & Co. Ltd but Williamson & Sons did not reopen at the end of the war.
In 1945 the Williamson premises were acquired by J. W. Beswick.

NOTE: There was an earlier pottery company 'Heathcote & Co'
- there was no connection with Williamson & Sons

Williamson, H. M. and Sons,
china manufacturers
from..... 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'

Obituary
H. M. Williamson, J.P., aged 80

With deep regret we record the death of Mr. Henry Mountford Williamson, senior partner and founder of the firm of H. M. Williamson & Sons, china manufacturers, Bridge Pottery, Longton. For a long time past Mr. Williamson has been in indifferent health, but about two years ago he suffered from a painful malady, which assumed a grave character at the commencement of this year. It affected his heart, and caused extreme prostration, and had he not been endowed with a wonderful physique he must have succumbed much sooner. In spite of the most skilful attention, however, Mr. Williamson passed away on July 31 [1907], at his residence, Cromartie House, Dresden.

The deceased was born at Hanley, on October 23, 1821, and, as was then customary, he began to He was apprenticed to Mr. Wm. Brownfield, at Cobridge, and soon became an efficient workman, and ultimately a very clever pottery gilder. He was engaged in this trade until about 1860, when he went to Longton, and commenced business as a china decorator at a small factory in Stafford-street.

For some reason or other he gave up this business, and joined G. L. Robinson & Co., Stafford-street, as works manager. He, however, returned to business on his own account as a china decorator with works in St. Martin’s-lane. He decorated for a number of prominent manufacturers with much success, and at the same time he was interested in the firm of Williamson, Turner & Co., earthenware manufacturers. In a short time, however, he withdrew from that firm, and commenced the manufacture of china in Heathcote-road, and thus founded the business of H. M. Williamson & Sons, with which he was identified almost up to the time of his death.

The rapid development of the business of the firm was due to the energy and discrimination of the deceased. With the active co-operation of his son, Mr. F. Williamson, and his son-in-law, Mr. Copestake, the business extended still more rapidly, and to meet its requirements the present buildings in Cooke-street were erected. It had been the determination of the deceased to have a large and well-arranged manufactory on modern lines, and fitted with the most improved machinery, with facilities for a large and regular output. He accomplished this, and with the personal attention of the deceased and his partners an extensive home and export trade has been established.

The late Mr. Williamson displayed his remarkable business abilities as a salesman as well as a manufacturer. For many years he himself conducted the business of the firm in London, and he is to-day remembered and spoken of by buyers and dealers as one of the most genial and most respected men in the trade.

About twelve years ago he retired from active participation in the management of the business, but the energy he infused into every department is bearing fruit to-day. He was a member and the chairman of the old Dresden Local Board. Dresden was annexed to Longton, and he was elected a member of the Sir James’ Ward of the Longton Town Council.

In 1885 he was chosen mayor, and filled the office with marked ability. His services were remembered, for in 1904 he was again elected as chief magistrate. He was exceedingly popular; his cheerful and always pleasant disposition endeared him to all who came in contact with him, both in public and private life. He was elected an alderman, and having found it desirable, for personal reasons, to withdraw from the bench of Aldermen for a time, he again sought re-election, and on the first vacancy occurring on the aldermanic bench, Mr. Williamson was again elected to fill it : an experience as gratifying as it was unusual.

He was a County Councillor from its first origin, up to last year. He was a most useful committee-man, serving on several committees, and being chairman of one. He was a member of the Board of Guardians for Stoke for sixteen years, and chairman of the board for five years, retiring last year : chairman of the Sick Nursing Association, a trustee of the Cottage Hospital, and treasurer and trustee of the Aynsley Dole to the aged poor of Longton. He was the oldest but one on the Commission of the Peace for the borough. He was an active worker in connection with the Methodist Church, and was for a long time superintendent of the Sunday School.

The funeral took place at the Borough Cemetery on August 3, in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends, and representatives of many public bodies.

Though a busy and keen man of business, the late Mr. Williamson was always solicitous for the welfare of the poor amongst whom he lived. He leaves a widow, three sons and two daughters, to whom we offer our sympathies

Pottery Gazette, Sept 2, 1907, pp 1058,9

the mark is almost certainly that of H. M. Williamson & Sons
a similar mark is listed in a trade directory entry for them

In common with a number of pottery manufacturers H M Williamson produced a wide
range of children's ware, often with well know nursery-rhymes and characters

Williamson & Sons, china manufacturers, Bridge Pottery, Longton, are represented in London by Mr. John Brock, 25, Thavies-inn, Holborn-circus, E.C.

This is one of the old firms of manufacturers of specialities in china for the home trade and for export. Mr. Brock has a thoroughly representative collection of samples of their wares always on show at his rooms, and he is supplied with the latest novelties as soon as they are brought out. They are just now showing a very large variety of tea ware in all grades, from neat and inexpensive printed patterns up to rich enamelled and gilt decorations. These are artistic in design and indicate care in the production. They have a reputation for the excellence of the body of their china, and not less for the skill with which it is fashioned and ornamented.

The special features of the samples we have just seen at Thavies-inn are tête-à-tête sets, coffee sets, tea and breakfast ware, moustache cups and saucers, dessert sets, fern pots, candlesticks, sweets, and some fancy pieces. The firm have always been noted for the regular production of novelties.

For years past they have been bringing out a long succession of registered designs. Buyers are thus accustomed always to expect something new from Messrs. Williamson when visiting Mr. Brock’s showrooms.

This season there is an interesting novelty for them, in which the firm fully maintain the individuality which has always pertained to their wares, both in shape and ornamentation. To keep in touch with the present demand for art in the home, the firm have just placed on the market an original application of "New Art" to porcelain, which they call their "Novem Artem." The principle which has guided them in this novelty is that decorative patterns should not be applied to articles of utility — particularly pottery — without a due regard to the form of the piece, the material of which it is made, and the purposes for which it is used. Messrs. Williamson say that “people of taste are now rightly demanding that decoration shall be applied as a means to an end, and not as the end itself.”

This is, of course, an essential of art (old or new), and the firm are doing good service by encouraging the present trend of public taste for art in connection with table ware for every-day use. The term “New Art” is general, and is applied to a great number of free and unconventional schemes of ornament. In most of them the idea is conveyed by graceful sweeps, curves, and lines. No one of them can be properly described verbally. We therefore illustrate a group of Messrs. Williamson’s table china in their "Novem Artem.”"

It is supplied in several colours — the blue and the green are especially appropriate. The shades of these employed are not obtrusive, and a white china tea set will be found to harmonise with the surroundings of the average home.

The Pottery Gazette, July 1, 1906

Manufacturers of the Novem Artem China
In Tea, Breakfast, Desert Ware, and every other article
required for every day use. It is inexpensive,
exceptionally artistic and useful, and the
thing for up-to-date people and persons of taste.

Our Violet & Blossom Ware is a Great Success!
in Tea, Breakfast, and every other article used

from..... 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'

Suffrage tea set made by H M Williamson & Sons of Longton
the newly introduced 'Novem Artem" shapes were used for this ware

"The Women's Social and Political Union commissioned merchandise to promote its cause and raise funds for the movement. Yea services like this one were specially made for use and sale at the Women's Exhibition held at Prince's Skating Rink, London in 1909. They featured the 'Angel of Freedom' logo designed by Sylvia Pankhurst. The chains and portcullis reference the women who endured imprisonment due to their militant actions."

Acknowledgement: display in the Aberdeen Art Gallery
Photos courtesy: Ron Davies (Nov 2025)

WSPU Angel of Freedom

Sylvia Pankhurst designed badges, banners and flyers for the WSPU, which were executed in the WSPU colours of purple, white and green symbolising dignity, purity and hope.

The most widely used of Pankhurst’s designs was the ‘angel of freedom’ blowing a trumpet.

Source: Pop up Painting - The Art of the Suffragettes (retrieved 26 Nov 2025)

both of these marks show a globe with an angel (or winged man) holding a pennant with the St. George's Cross

1898 map showing the top of Heathcote Road where it joins Gold Street and Cooke Street
Williamson's works is marked in blue and the adjacent Falcon Pottery works is marked in red

1907 trade map showing the Williamson's works and the adjacent Falcon Pottery works

1907 trade map showing the Williamson's works (marked in blue)
and the adjacent Falcon Pottery works (marked in red)

H. M. Williamson & Co., St. Martin's Lane Market Street, Longton Decorators of China & Earthenware in all its Branches All Orders entrusted to their care Punctually attended to. this advert appeared in the 1865 Keates directory	H. M. Williamson & Son, Manufacturers of Gilt China and Earthenware Waterloo Street, Longton this advert appeared in the 1873 and 1875 Keates directories	notice of the dissolution of the partnership between Henry Mountford Williamson, Enoch Turner and Samuel Bridgwood This notice appeared in the Longton Gazette of 13 February 1872
adverts courtesy: Dick Henrywood, p248

H M Williamson & Co	Longton off Market Street	1858	1872
H M Williamson & Son	Longton Waterloo Street	1872	1879
H M Williamson & Sons	Longton Heathcote Road	1879	c.1947