H J Wood (Ltd)

Location and period of operation:

H J Wood (Ltd)

Burslem

1885

 mid 1970s

 

Earthenware manufacturer at the Alexandra Pottery, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • The business was established by Henry James Wood his brother Thomas Francis Wood and their father Absalom.

  • Absalom and Thomas Francis were also partners in Wood, Son & Co.; Absalom, Thomas Francis and another son William were also partners in New Wharf pottery Co. 

  • Absalom Wood died in June 1889. 

  • In the 1930s the business was incorporated into Wood & Sons but continued to trade under its own name until at least the mid 1970s. 

  • The 1947 Potteries Directory listing for H. J. Wood states "including Radford Handcraft Pottery"; later years list  'Radford Handcraft' as a trade name.

 

 

 


Wood, H.J., jet, rockingham and samian ware 
manufacturer, Alexandra Pottery

 

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

 

 

1907 advert for H.J.Wood

 

 

1956 advert for H.J.Wood

Pottery Gazette - August 1956

 

 

 


hand painted bowl
pattern number 1750
raised pattern 
hand painted jug
pattern number 1768
Art pottery jug 

examples of fancy earthenware produced by H J Wood Ltd 

 


examples from the 'Sportsman' series
examples from the 'Pack of Cards' series

'Tobys' designed by Veronica Wheatland who was a freelance modeller for the Wood business 

 

 


Town Crier Toby Jug

 
H J Wood
moulded mark 


'TOBY'
by
Wood & Sons
England
printed mark 

this piece carries both of these marks

 

 

'Bursley Ware', 'Charlotte Rhead', 'E Radford', 'Radford Handcraft' were names on art ware that are associated with H. J. Wood Ltd. 

As well as art ware H. J. Wood Ltd. advertised themselves as producers of 'EARTHENWARE... book ends; cheese dishes; cigarette sundries; flower jugs; lamps (table); plaques; salad bowls; teapots; toby jugs; vases; wall vases.'

 

 

 
Bursley Ware
Charlotte Rhead 

 


Charlotte Rhead worked for a number of pottery companies, including H. J. Wood where most of her designs are marked 'Bursley Ware'.

She produced cheerful designs, including some tubelined work. Her style was more traditional than that of her contemporaries, Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper.

Wikipedia: Charlotte Rhead

 

 

  
E Radford
England
Handpainted 

Edward Radford joined H. J. Wood in the early 1920s as a designer and decorator of ornamental earthenware. 

Around 1930 Radford established 'Radford Handcraft Pottery' within the H. J. Wood works

Following Radford's retirement in 1948, H. J. Wood continued to produce ware under his name for many years.  The 1947 Potteries Directory listing for H. J. Wood states "including Radford Handcraft Pottery"; later years list  'Radford Handcraft' as a trade name.

 

Marks used on ware for identification:

  
HJW
B

this style of mark used c.1885+ (with ENGLAND 1891+) 

initials of H J Wood inside a Stafford Knot
the letter 'B' underneath is for the town of Burslem, where the works were based

 

 

 
Bursley Ware
Charlotte Rhead 

c.1920s+ 
Charlotte Rhead was a pottery artist who worked for a number of pottery companies, including H. J. Wood. 
In 1943 she became a director of Wood & Sons

 

  
E Radford
England
Handpainted 

c.1920s+ 

Edward Radford joined H. J. Wood in the early 1920s as a designer and decorator of ornamental earthenware.

 

    
H J Wood Ltd
Burslem
England 

c.1948+ 

 


H J Wood Ltd
England 

c.1960+ 
H J Wood Ltd
Handpainted
England 

c.1962+ 

these styles of marks also appear with other pattern names

       

 


'RADFORD'
Handcraft Ware
H J Wood Ltd
England 

c.1960+ 

Following Edward Radford's retirement in 1948 H J Wood continued to produce ware under the Radford name - for example a 1975 advert lists ware under the style "H J Wood (Radford)" 

 

 

  

both these marks found on the same Toby Jug

H J Wood was incorporated into Wood & Sons Ltd in the 1930s but continued to trade under its own name until at least the 1970's

 

 

 


1925 map showing the location of the Alexandra pottery of H. J. Wood Ltd (shown in red) 

The New Wharf pottery Co. works are shown in green - these were also operated by members of the Wood family

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks