Hollinshead & Kirkham (Ltd)

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

The original partners were John William Hollinshead, Samuel Hollinshead and Samuel Kirkam. (It is likely that Hollinshead & Kirkham were in another partrnership together - Robinson, Kirkham & Co)
Around 1876 they took over the Woodland Pottery in Tunstall.
In November 1878 Samuel Hollinshead left the partnership.
Following the death of J. W. Hollinshead - Eliza, Alfred William, John and Edward Hollinshead (executors of J. W. Hollinshead) became partners with Samuel Kirkam.
In 1890 the Unicorn Pottery in Tunstall, previously worked by Wedgwood & Co., had been rebuilt and the business of Hollinshead & Kirkham moved here.
In January 1891 the partnership was dissolved and the business was carried on by John Kirkham and George Frederick Helé under the same title of Hollinshead & Kirkham. (George F. Helé had previously been a partner in Cumberlidge, Humphreys & Helé)
In December 1902 G. F. Helé left the partnership.
Around 1915 (the later famous) Clarice Cliff was a lithographer at Hollinshead & Kirkham for a few years, at this time she attended evening classes at the Burslem School of Art and at the age of 17 went to work for A. J. Wilkinson.
In the 1930s Hollinshead & Kirkham introduced hand painted 'fruit' tableware and art deco shapes - with pattern names like 'Luscious' and 'Autumn' these attractive wares mimic the Worcester fruit painted wares.
In a 1951 directory the company officers were listed as - Managing Director: W. P. Wood; Sales Manager: B. S. Hancock; Director & Secretary: G. Whalley; Works Manager: E. Jones.
In a 1956 directory the company officers were listed as - Managing Director: F. Wood; Sales Director: B. S. Hancock; Decorating Manager: R. Grocott; Works Manager: J. Gibson.
In March 1956 the business was voluntarily wound up. The factory was purchased by Johnson Bros (Hanley) Ltd.

from..... 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'

Hollinshead & Kirkham Ltd
General Earthenware Manufacturers
Unicorn Pottery, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent

notice of the dissolution of the partnership at the time
- the business carried on by John Kirkham and George Frederick Helé
under the same title of Hollinshead & Kirkham.

Marks on Asiatic Pheasants ware included H & K and impressed H & K late Wedgwood

any marks including 'late Wedgwood' are after 1890 when
Hollinshead & Kirkham took over the Unicorn Pottery which
had previously been worked by Wedgwood & Co

fragment of a Hollinshead & Kirkham mark -
found in an archaelogical dig in Quebec City - Spring 2010

H & K
LATE WEDGWOOD
impressed or printed mark dating from c.1890 onwards when
Hollinshead & Kirkham took over Wedgwood & Co's Unicorn Pottery
.. used until around 1900)

impressed or printed mark dating from c.1890 onwards when
Hollinshead & Kirkham took over Wedgwood & Co's Unicorn Pottery
.. used until around 1900)

the Hollinshead & Kirkham Unicorn Pottery works in Amicable Street, Tunstall
(1898 map)