In 1887 Daniel Lingard joined James Colclough who was working the Britannia Black Works, Tunstall and they operated as Colclough & Lingard. At sometime James Webster (son-in-law of James Colclough) joined them as a junior partner. 

In March 1899 the partnership was dissolved and the business continued as Lingard, Webster & Co. James Colclough retained an interest in the company.