Bates, Walker & Co






 

Location and period of operation:

Bates Walker & Co

Burslem

1875

1878

 

 Earthenware and porcelain manufacturer at the Dale Hall Works, Longport, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

  • The Dale Hall works was originally founded in 1790 and this date appears on some backstamps. 

  • One of the more successful occupiers was Mayer Bros (c.1843-55) and subsequent owners sometimes used "LATE MAYERS" in their marks. 

  • The previous company, Bates, Elliot & Co (1870-75), introduced a 'kneeling, nude potter' with the date 1790 as a mark, subsequent owners used the same mark. 

  • The partners in Bates, Walker & Co were William Bates and John Walker - the partnership was dissolved on the 12th August 1878

 

 

Formerly: Bates Elliot & Co [1870-75]

Subsequently: Bates, Gildea & Walker  [1878-81]

 

London Gazette, December 3, 1875

Bates, Walker & Co were exhibitors in the British Section of the
International Exhibition of 1876, Philadelphia 

 

London Gazette, September 3, 1878

 
notice of the dissolution of the partnership
between William Bates and John Walker 

 

 

 

 


Plate in a brown transfer ware version of the bamboo pattern
Cup and Saucer in the bamboo pattern
this version is hand coloured with gilt banding


BAMBOO
B. W. & Co
LATE MAYERS

The registration diamond shows that the bamboo pattern was first registered on the 8th February 1876 

 

 

 

 


Chamber pot in the Cyprus pattern
B W & Co 

 

 

 

 


Cream jug in the Etruscan Vase pattern by Bates, Walker & Co

Etruscan Vases was a pattern first produced by T & J Mayer c. 1841 and continued by successive manufacturers at the Dale Hall Works in the pottery town of Burslem, England. 

- more on the Etruscan Vases pattern - 

 

 

 

 


Tureen and base in the Lily pattern 


B. W. & Co

The pattern name 'LILY' is included within the belt mark which includes the kneeling nude potter mark

The registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 25th July 1871 by the preceding company of Bates, Elliot & Co 

The mark includes an impressed 10/76 - this is the month/year of manufacture, in this instance October 1876

 

 

 

 

 

Initials and marks used on ware for identification:

B W & Co

as an impressed
or printed mark 

BATES WALKER
& CO


B W & Co
in a belt mark 

CYPRUS is the pattern name 

 

 

the kneeling nude potter mark

 


1790
B. W. & Co
LATE MAYERS 

The previous company of Bates & Elliot introduced 
this kneeling nude potter mark and it was used by 
successive owners of the Dale Hall potworks.

 - more on this mark -

 

 


English Porcelain 
B W & Co
(printed mark) 

 

Bates & Walker
(impressed mark)
B W & Co
Late Mayers
(printed mark) 

 

B W & Co
(impressed mark)

 

the Poonah pattern was first registered
on the 5th September 1876 

the impressed 5/78 is a date mark - showing 
that the ware was produced in May 1878 


 

1877, employee reference from Bates, Walker & Co

 

Oct 9th 1877

"The bearer Richard Watkin, Dishmaker has worked for us upwards of three years and he is a very steady and good workman and one whom we can with confidence recommend and he leaves of his own free will"



John Thomas Watkin b.1820 was a potter as were most of his children.

He lived at 28 Elliott Street, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, and his son Richard also worked for Bates Walker & Co of Burslem and for  John Dimmock & Co of Hanley.

Richard Watkin emigrated to America and took with him  recommendations from these companies dated 1877 and 1879


 

The Dale Hall Works



The Dale Hall Works 1910 - 1950 (c.)

- click for more -

photo acknowledgement: Staffordshire Past Tracks

The Trent and Mersey canal was built by James Brindley between 1766 and 1777 and transported raw materials and finished goods to and from a large number of pottery factories in Stoke-on-Trent. 

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks

 

 


Page History:

Page created 2 March 2015

Last updated 27 December 2025: Page layout reformatted; example of the Lily pattern added.