Britannia metal goods and earthenware manufacturer at various locations in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. 
   NOTE: Britannia metal is a tin alloy which was used in the pottery industry for lids on jugs and and teapots. 

• Thomas Booth, his wife Lydia and 5 children were were all born in Sheffield, Yorkshire.  

• Around 1845 the family moved to Litchfield Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and Thomas started business as "Britannia metal worker" By the time of the 1851 census he was "employing 6 males and 6 females", including his two eldest daughters who were working as "metal polishers".

• An 1852 advert records a business as "Thomas Booth & Co" "Britannia Works, Litchfield Street, Hanley". 

• By the time of the 1861 census he was "employing 4 boys and 4 girls". Their 3 daughters had left home, the two sons Walter (now 22) and Henry (now 17) were employed as "assistant" and "warehouse boy"

• Around 1867 Thomas Booth was operating as an earthenware manufacturer at the Waterloo Works, Nelson Place while continuing as a Britannia Metal Goods manufacturer at a new location: the Britannia Works, High Street, Hanley which served as the main address - from 1867 to July 1871 there were at least 6 earthenware design registrations made by Thomas Booth, Britannia Works, High Street, Hanley.   

• In the 1871 census Thomas was listed as an "earthenware manufacturer". 

• It appears that around 1872 the business relocated to the New Hall Works and Thomas took his two sons, Walter & Henry into partnership - from May 1872 to March 1875 there were at least 5 earthenware design registrations made by Thomas Booth & Sons, Newhall Works, Hanley.  

• In September 1874 Thomas Booth retired from the partnership with his sons. The notice records that they operated as "Earthenware Manufacturers and Metal Mounters" in Hanley and "at Brownfields, near Longton... as Colliery Proprietors". Walter and Henry continued, retaining the name Thomas Booth & Sons. 

• In April 1877 the business was liquidated and the first notice issued for a meeting of creditors to be held on the 16th of April 1877, "instituted by Walter Booth and Henry Booth, both of 76, High Street, Hanley.. carrying on business as Manufacturers of Earthenware, at the New Hall Works, Hanley.. and as Colliery Proprietors, at the Brownfields Colliery, Longton.." 

NOTE: There is no known relation between this Thomas Booth and Thomas Booth of Burslem & Tunstall

New Hall Works:

It appears that around 1872 the business of Thomas Booth relocated to the New Hall Works and Thomas took his two sons, Walter & Henry into partnership

".... in 1872 Messrs. Harding gave up the business, when Mr. John Aynsley, china manufacturer, of Longton, purchased the back portion of the works and let it to its present occupiers, Messrs. Thomas Booth & Sons. 

The entire front of the New Hall Works was purchased by Mr. Henry- Hall, metal mounter of jugs, teapots, &c., so that the manufactory became divided into two distinct properties. 

The portion occupied by Messrs. Booth having been burnt down has been rebuilt. The productions of Messrs. Booth & Sons are the usual classes of ordinary earthenware in printed, painted, enamelled and gilt services ; stone ware of good quality, in which a large variety of jugs and teapots are made ; and jasper ware, in various ornamental articles. Among their shapes of toilet ware are the "Eldon," "Globe," "Alexandra," and "Cottage;" and among their specialities in other goods are a self-closing hot-water jug, and a molasses jug, which are considered very successful."

1878 - Jewitt, Llewellynn 'The ceramic art of Great Britain from pre-historic times down to the present day' 

 

NOTE: It was common practice for manufacturers and landlords to rent potworks to a succession of pottery manufacturers. It was also a regular practice for the larger works to be let to a number of manufacturers at the same time.

advert from 1865 Keates Directory
 

Earthenware Manufacturer,
Waterloo Works, Nelson Place

advert from 1867 Keates Directory

Registered design number: 242234
7th June 1870
Proprietor: Thomas Booth.
Address: Britannia Works, High Street, Hanley, Staffordshire.

the registration diamond gives a date of 7th June 1870 for the registration of the design. 'Hanley' is the name of the town where the factory was located.
'Dresden' is the pattern name
'18' is likely to be a shape/size number

the registration diamond gives a date of 26th May 1869 
for the registration of the design

The London Gazette
22nd September 1874

Notice of the dissolution of the partnership between
Thomas, Walter and Henry Booth when Thomas Booth 
left the business

The London Gazette
6th April 1877

notice of liquidation of the business and the first notice issued for a meeting of creditors