Majolica and earthenware manufacturer at the Railway Pottery, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, England

Background of the colour works: 

• Simon Fielding (b.1827 d.1905) was the father of Abraham Fielding (b.1855). Simon Fielding was an acknowledged authority and judge on dogs and poultry and he came to the Stoke-on-Trent area to work for the Duke of Sutherland on his estate at Trentham Park.  

• Simon Fielding became a partner with Herbert Bailey, as Bailey & Co, who from 1870 operated a small colour mill on the River Blithe at Cresswell, about eight miles from Stoke-on-Trent, (this eventually became Blythe Colour Works). 

• In 1870 Abraham passed the Cambridge Local Examination and began an apprenticeship as a colour maker at Bailey & Co. 

• It appears that there was some form of disagreement between Herbert Bailey and Simon Fielding. In November 1873 Herbert Bailey filed for bankruptcy. Subsequently there was a law suit by Bailey against Fielding and the court decreed that the partnership stands as dissolved on the 22nd March 1873. 

• Simon Fielding acquired the Cresswell colour works, perhaps as early as 1872, and put his son Abraham in charge of the business which now traded as S. Fielding.  

• After Abraham joined with his father At the Railway Pottery in November 1879, it became increasing difficult to manage both businesses and in the 1880s the Cresswell colour works was sold to Pigott & Scarratt.

Background of the Railway Pottery: 

• In the spring of 1878 Simon Fielding provided the capital for some practical pottery men to start a manufacturing business of their own. The principle two men were Frederick Hackney and J. Kirkham, both of these had worked for a number of years in the fancy goods department at Josiah Wedgwood's works.    

• The business operated at the Railway Pottery, Stoke as Hackney, Kirkham & Co. Soon its after founding J. Kirkham left the business - the remaining partners were Frederick Hackney, Simon Fielding, Enoch Massy & Joseph Ball and they traded as F. Hackney & Co. Simon Fielding appears to have been a sleeping partner. 

• Evidently some of Fielding's capital was used to improve the facilities at the Railway Pottery. 

• The Cresswell colour works, owned by Simon Fielding and managed by Abraham Fielding supplied the Railway Pottery with colour but the day to day operation of the pottery was left to Hackney, Massy & Ball.

• Abraham Fielding visited the pottery regularly to maintain supplies and settle accounts. On one such visit towards the end of 1879 he found the bailiffs in possession of the works. Abraham paid off the debts joined with his father at the Railway Pottery.   

• In November 1879 the partnership of F. Hackney & Co was dissolved and Simon Fielding continued with Abraham as S. Fielding & Co.