Earthenware manufacturer at Tunstall and then Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

• Gater, Hall & Co operated at the New Gordon Pottery in Tunstall from about 1899 to 1907.  At that time the Gordon Pottery had 2 biscuit kilns and 2 glost kilns. 

• The main partners were Thomas Gater and Thomas Hall. For a short time prior Thomas Gater operated the New Gordon Pottery on his own account as "Thomas Gater & Co"

• Around 1905 Thomas Gater purchased the Royal Overhouse Pottery in Burslem from Ralph Hammersley and in March 1907 manufacturing was moved the from the Gordon Pottery to the Overhouse Pottery. 

• An advert of April 1907 which announced the factory move noted that the sole proprietors were Tom Hall and John Hall.  

• Thomas Hall died in September 1913 - see the obituary 

• In 1916 William Barratt (of King & Barratt) purchased an interest in Gater Hall & Co. Both companies continued to operate until 1941 when King & Barratt was closed-down under the wartime concentration scheme, they did not reopen when restrictions were lifted. 

• Gater Hall & Co remained in production under the concentration scheme and in 1943 the business, now under the control of William Barratt, was renamed to "Barratt's of Staffordshire Ltd" 

Messrs. Gater Hall & Co have issued the following circular to their numerous customers:-

Sole Proprietors: Tom Hall, John Hall            March 15, 1907

Dear Sir,

Owing to our greatly increasing business we have been compelled to take larger premises, and consequently have leased

The Royal Overhouse Pottery Burslem

(formerly occupied by Messrs. R. Hammersley & Son Ltd.)

"Gater, Hall & Co., Royal Overhouse Works, Burslem, are manufacturers of useful domestic earthenware for the home and export trades. 

They are represented in London by Mr. Ernest L. Price, who looks especially after the export trade. Mr. Hall comes up to London at regular intervals and attends to buyers for the home market. They have fine show-rooms at 93, Aldersgate-st., E.C., which are open all day on Tuesday and Friday, and from 2 to 3 on other days. Mr. Price attends to London and provincial buyers when Mr. Hall is not in town. 

Mr. Price has a fine range of the firm’s samples very well displayed in a large and light room. They show a large assortment of toilet sets in which are several quite new shapes and decorations. The striking feature about these sets is the boldness of form. The ewers are of full capacity and the basins are deep. Every taste is catered for, both in shape and ornamentation. There are plain surfaces and embossed designs in endless variety and the same choice of decoration, from plain printed patterns up to rich enamelled and gilt. Amongst the latter are some beautiful designs in blue and gold. In addition to toilet ware, the firm specialise in sets of jugs, cheese stands and covers, teapots and tea sets. 

They understand the requirements of the various Colonial and foreign markets and have goods suitable for them. Foreign trade is not a casual business with Gater, Hall & Co. They lay themselves out expressly for it, and give it all the attention they can. They have a reputation for the security with which their goods for export are packed — a detail in which they pride themselves. 

All round their productions are of good medium class. They do not profess to supply the highest grades, nor yet the very cheapest, but, taking quality into consideration, they claim that their productions are all cheap."

Pottery Gazette, September 1909

Obituary 

Mr. Tom Hall

"With tragic suddenness, and causing quite a shock to a wide circle of friends, amongst whom he moved, Mr. Tom Hall, of Penrhyn House, Waterloo-road, Burslem, and a partner in the firm of Gater, Hall & Co., Royal Overhouse Works, Burslem, passed away on Sept. 27 [1913] from heart seizure. 

  Only a few hours before, apparently in the best of health, he had attended the funeral of a fellow member of the Burslem Conservative Club. After returning home in the evening, he conversed jovially with his two boys as to their afternoon’s sport, and afterwards retired to rest without anything unusual having occurred. Only a little time elapsed, however, before he experienced a heart seizure, necessitating the calling in of Drs. S. King Alcock and A. Gilchrist, who resorted to artificial respiration. This, unfortunately, as well as every medical assistance, was without avail, and he passed away, leaving a widow and two sons to mourn him.

The deceased was an active figure in the potting trade, and was extensively known and respected.
All his life he had been identified with the trade, his career being commenced at an early age with the firm of Wood & Bagguley, Burslem.

After ten years in their service, at the end of which period he had found for himself a responsible position, he decided to start out in business on his own account, which he did in Hanley, but he subsequently elected to throw in his lot with his brother, Mr. John Hall, the partners buying over the business of Thos. Gater & Co., earthenware manufacturers, Furlong-lane, Burslem. The business growing apace, more extensive premises were afterwards taken in the Gordon Pottery, Pinnox-street, Tunstall, and twelve years later, still further extension being acutely necessary, the Overhouse Pottery, which had been vacated by Ralph Hammersley & Son, was taken, and here the business has been carried on ever since.

  Energetic to a degree, and tactful withal, the late Mr. Tom Hall contributed very largely to the remarkable development which the firm enjoyed. Undertaking most of the travelling he succeeded in widening, largely by his personality, the boundaries of the firm’s markets, and in London he was always at home in the knowledge that his friends in the trade were many and real. 

  He was a Past President of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers’ Association, and a member of the Eccentrics Club. As a Freemason he had been a member of the Sutherland Lodge (451) for many years, and his rank at the time of his death was that of Senior Warden. He was also on the roll of the Royal Arch Lodge. In politics he was a Conservative to the backbone, being regularly seen at the Burslem Unionist Club, and often found supporting his party speakers on their platforms. As a member of the Burslem Felons’ Association, he fulfilled the duties of president some four years ago.

  The deceased was a keen lover of outdoor sports, and was formerly a president of the Burslem Cricket Club. Amateur theatricals also interested him, and years back he was personally identified with the Stoke-on-Trent Amateur Operatic Society. 

  One might chronicle many good works with which he was associated. One of these was the annual Christmas dinner given to the poor children at Cobridge. In this he was always an enthusiastic worker, and himself contributed generously towards it, catching the spirit of the adage that it is always more blessed to give than to receive.

  The funeral took place at the Burslem Cemetery on Wednesday, Oct. 1, amid such manifestations of sympathy and regret as can only be described as phenomenally proving the high esteem in which he was everywhere held. The following to the cemetery was unique in its wide representation.

  Our sympathy goes out specially at this time to the deceased’s widow and to his two sons, who are thus so untimely robbed of husband and father, and also to Mr. John Hall, who has lost so ardent and helpful a co-worker and brother."

Pottery Gazette, November 1913

These marks were used on ware produced for and supplied to the British Government; it was ultimately property of the Crown/Government, hence the GR-VI.

Gater Hall (and others) were given government contracts throughout the late 1930s and into the 1940s (WWII) and produced canteen ware - most likely for the armed services.

Although some marks say "Established 1819" this is not the date of the formation of Gater Hall & Co (which was formed around 1899) it was a date taken from the inscription over the entrance to the works which reads..

"Edward Challinor commenced business here A.D. 1819, and rebuilt the premises A.D. 1869"

- New Gordon Pottery - 

Gater Hall & Co operated the New Gordon Pottery 
in Tunstall from about 1899 to 1907

- Royal Overhouse Pottery - 

in March 1907 manufacturing was moved the from the Gordon Pottery in Tunstall to the Overhouse Pottery.