• William Hilditch had previously been in partnership with George Martin. Martin left the partnership in November 1819 and the business continued as W Hilditch & Sons. 

• William Hilditch (Senior) retired in 1828 (age 72) and was succeeded by his three sons: William, John and Joseph. Hilditch News Letter.

• Around 1830 William Hopwood joined the partnership which continued as Hilditch & Hopwood. 

Church Street Works

"The Church Street Works were established in the latter half of last century, and in 1780 were carried on by Mr. John Forrester, who was succeeded, in 1811 by Messrs. Hilditch & Sons, who in their productions followed closely in the wake of Josiah Spode and Thomas Minton; at which time most of the processes here were carried out by female hands. 

In 1830 the firm changed to that of "Hilditch & Hopwood," who, at the Exhibition of 1851, sent up some notable examples of their productions, one of which was a dessert service decorated in the Renaissance style in gold, with landscape and figure vignettes, mainly illustrative of Scott's "Marmion" and they also exhibited some very successful imitations of Indian china, prepared by them from designs by Mr. Shorter, of London. The tea services exhibited at the same time were remarkable for their excellent body, the design and execution of the painted decoration, the high class of the ground colours, and the massiveness of the gilding. One example, with raised antique foliage in gold on the fine old " Derby blue " ground, was especially good ; while the painting of others, with small landscapes in medallions, and wreaths of flowers, was far beyond average merit. 

In 1858, on the death of Mr. William Hopwood, the works were continued by the trustees till May, 1867, when the business, stock, and plant, including the moulds, copperplates, &c., were sold to Dale, Page & Goodwin.."

Llewellynn Jewitt, Ceramic Art of Great Britain
edited by Geoffrey Godden. 

NOTE: In 1811 the business was originally Hilditch & Martin. 

Hilditch & Sons
printed cobalt blue plates 

photos courtesy: Peter Helm