William Pointon






 

Location and period of operation:

William Pointon

Burslem

1828

1856

 

Earthenware and China manufacturer at the Overhouse Works, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

 

  • In 1828 William Pointon leased the Overhouse Works in Burslem from Edward Challinor. [1] 

  • It was reported, in 1845, that a "new design of teapot" was stolen from Pointon's manufactory. [2]

  • William Pointon retired in 1856 and an auction of stock was held at the Overhouse manufactory. [3]

  • After Pointon's retirement the Overhouse works were let in 1856 to Morgan, Williams & Co. [4] 

  • Pointon died on the 21st September 1857. [5]

William Pointon is recorded in various directories from 1828 to 1856. His huse is listed as High Street, Burslem in Williams 1846 directory. 

Family details:

Pointon's son, George, married Esther Astbury (daughter of Thomas Harley) in Dublin on the 13 Feb 1835. [6] 

Pointon's daughter married in 1843. [7] 

 

 

 

 


Earthenware and China manufacturers in 1834
- the Burslem area -


Pointon Wm. Overhouse Works

from the William White 'Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire', 1834 



Mr. WM. POINTON'S Earthenware Factory, Burslem.

No. 181.- George Wilcox,    aged 11

I have been to work three or four years; first picked stilts, then run moulds, then brush ware in the warehouse. I am not able to read or write. 

Father works in the sagger-house; he is in regular work six days in the week; he gets 18s. a week, or rather more; I earn 2s. 6d. a week always. 

Mother looks after house. I have three brothers and sisters; they are younger than me; they go to school week days and Sundays; I don't know if they can read. I come to work at six and go home at six. 

I get milk-meat for breakfast, and bacon and tatees sometimes for dinner; sometimes only tatees. I go to Sunday school, and learn spelling and the Catechism. 


No. 182: Josiah Mostyn,   aged 11

I turn jigger for William Wilcox; used to run moulds. 

Come to work at six, and leave at eight or half past. William Wilcox does not always come Mondays; I stop at home then. 

I cannot read; I cannot write. I went to day school when I was little; I go to Sunday school now, at the National. I get 2s. a week, and am always in regular work.

Scriven's comment: "These premises are small ; rooms small and close, dirty, ill ventilated ; a stagnant pond in the middle of yard."

from: Scriven's Report on Child Labour in the pottery industry in 1840

- click for more on Scriven's report - 

 


 

The Over House Works, Burslem

 

details of the occupants of the works 

 

additional photos of the works 

Neville Malkin's sketches 

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks

 

 


References:

1.  ^  Jewitt's Ceramic Art of Great Britain 1800-1900, edited by Geoffrey A. Godden, p19.

2.  ^  Staffordshire Advertiser Newspaper, 15 Nov 1845; Referenced in Pottery References in the Staffordshire Advertiser 1795-1865, Rodney Hampson, p92.

3.  ^  Staffordshire Advertiser, 22 March 1856, p92.

4.  ^  Jewitt, p19.

5.  ^  Staffordshire Advertiser, 26 Sept 1857, p92.

6.  ^  Staffordshire Advertiser, 14 March 1835, p57.

7.  ^  Staffordshire Advertiser,  14 Oct 1843, p92.

 


Page History:

Page created 20 October 2019

Updated 22 Aug 2025:- Staffordshire Advertiser references added; Jewitt/Godden referenced added; additional links to pages on the Overhouse Works added.