Thomas Dimmock & Co
Thomas Dimmock (Jnr) & Co






 

Location and period of operation:

T Dimmock & Co

Hanley

1828

1860

 

Earthenware manufacturer at the Albion Street Works and the Tontine Street Works, Hanley (Shelton), Stoke-on-Trent, England. 
  • It appears that Thomas Dimmock (Snr) rented works around 1822 from a John Birch. 

  • Thomas Dimmock (Snr) died in 1827 and son Thomas Dimmock (Jnr) continued the lease and operated the business from 1828 as Thomas Dimmock (jnr) & Co. Around 1838 he purchased the works outright. 

See the entry on the Albion Street Works for fuller details of the partnerships and dates. 


Ward in his book The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent (published 1843) notes...

"THOMAS DIMMOCK & Co. hold three manufactories, viz.-

First, A pot-work in Hanley, adjoining the new Market-house, formerly James Whitehead's, afterwards J. and W. Handley's.

Second, Another pot-work in the upper end of Shelton, formerly of Edmund John Birch, afterwards of Christopher Whitehead.

Third, An enamelling and guilding establishment, adjacent to the King's Head, in Shelton."

  • Thomas Dimmock (jnr) died in April 1860 - the other partners at the time were John Dimmock, John Dimmock, Josiah Dimmock, John Smith and Robert Smith. Subsequently this partnership was dissolved on July 1860. 

  • The business continued as J Dimmock & Co. 

 

Subsequently: J. Dimmock & Co

 


 

The London Gazette
3rd July 1860


Notice of the dissolution of the partnership of
Thomas Dimmock, junr., and Company
 

 

 


 

Kaolin Ware 

Kaolin Ware was a trade name used by Dimmock. 

Kaolin, also known as china clay, is a primary ingredient in porcelain manufacture although it can be used in producing earthenware especially when combined with other clays. This helps produce a more durable ware with a brighter body - often called 'Pearl Ware'.

 

 

 


hand painted plate in the Bamboo pattern 

Bamboo 
Kaolin Ware 
 D

The 'squiggle' marks were used (after the style of Chinese porcelain manufacturers) to give the impression of the Orient to their ware even though it was produced in England.

Other manufacturers of the time used similar styles in some of their marks

- see Charles Meigh -

 





Florentine Pattern

Kaolin Ware
Florentine
D
(printed)

Pearl Ware
D
(impressed)

 

 


 

 

 


Dinner plates in the Wild Flowers pattern

Kaolin Ware
Wild Flowers
D

 

 


 

 


plate in the flow-blue Rhine Pattern

Kaolin Ware
Rhine
D

the registration diamond shows that this pattern was registered on the 7th May 1844

Registered design number: 18207.
Proprietor: Thomas Dimmock, junior and Company.
Address: Shelton Potteries, Staffordshire.
Subject: Plate.
Class 4: earthenware

 




Kaolin Ware platter in the Tripod Pattern 

 


 

Stone Ware 


Vine Border Pattern - Stone Ware

Vine Border 
Stone Ware 
D

 

Stoneware - a style of ironstone

 


 


Scroll Pattern - Stone Ware

Scroll 
Stone Ware 
D

photos courtesy: Darek Kukiz 

 


Chinese Tree 

 


Dinner service in the Chinese Tree pattern

The pattern is characterised by its Chinoiserie-inspired design, reflecting the Victorian era's fascination with all things 'exotic' and 'Oriental' - it is similar in style to the 'Indian Tree' pattern.

It draws inspiration from Chinese art and design, incorporating elements of stylised trees, flowers, and butterflies. The colour pallet is cobalt blue on a white background with additional colors such as orange and gold highlights.


Chinese Tree
'D' monogram
(printed)

Pearl Ware
'D' monogram
(impressed)

photos courtesy: John Barbucci 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Marks and trade names used on ware for identification:

Much of the ware is marked with a letter 'D' 

A variety of floral cartouche marks were used with the Kaolin Ware name.

 

 

D
The letter 'D' was used in association with printed marks by Thomas Dimmock.
NOTE: Davenports also used the initial letter 'D'

The use of the trade name 'Kaolin Ware' and marks with a registration number
can confirm the use of the 'D' mark as Dimmock

 

KAOLIN WARE

PEARL WARE

 


 


KAOLIN WARE was a trade name and only used by Thomas Dimmock & Co. 
'BAMBOO' is the pattern name


 

 


Pearl Ware
'D' monogram
(impressed)

PEARL WARE was a name used by a number of pottery manufacturers but the monogram was only used by Thomas Dimmock


'D' monogram
(impressed)

Stone China
D
Staffordshire
(printed)

(See Godden's Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks, p208)

 

 


 

 

STONE WARE - a style of ironstone, was a generic description
 used by a number of pottery manufacturers.


The initial 'D' and the pattern style VINE BORDERS identify this mark as Dimmocks.

There were many Dimmock marks with the crown above the pattern, with the initial 'D'

 


 

The Albion Street Works

 


- click for more information on the Dimmock Works -


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks


 

Updated 20 Aug 2025

Page tidied up; Section on 'Chinese Tree' added; Description of 'D' monogram improved.