Ridgways






 

Location and period of operation:

Ridgways

Shelton

late 1879

1920

 

Earthenware manufacturer at the Bedford works, Shelton, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • The Bedford Works, Shelton, was founded in 1866 by Edward John Ridgway. 

  • From 1873 the partners were his sons John and Edward Ackroyd Ridgway along with Joseph Sparks. 

  • From late 1879 the business traded as Ridgways.

  • In 1920 the business was incorporated under the name Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd.

 

Formerly: Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway  (1873-1879) 

Subsequently: Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd  (1920-1952) 

 

 

 


Ridgways
 Bedford Works, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Manufacturers of Printed Ware of all descriptions, Decorated Table and Toilet Ware, Stone,
Jasper, Jet, and Porous Goods, also of Majolica and Green Glaze

 The Pottery Gazette, American and Canadian Edition, January 1st 1880

 

 

Ridgways Tureen
Ridgways Tureen

 

 


Ridgways platter in the MELBA pattern

other companies used the name 'MELBA' 

- click for more on MELBA -

 

 


platter and plate in the popular transfer-ware Hawthornden pattern

this pattern (number 4/7583) was introduced by the predecessor Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway
but it was later registered in April 1880 by Ridgways

the Hawthornden pattern was widely produced - mostly as 
blue & white ware, but occasionally in brown or purple
the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered by Ridgways on the 15th April 1880 

 

 

 

 
monochrome transferware dinner set in the Devonshire Pattern  

photos courtesy: Penny LoPresto 
 


Devonshire 
Ridgways

The bow and quiver mark without any place 
name was generally used around 1880-1885

The registration number 688 shows the shape of the dinner set was registered on the 23rd January 1884

The number 2302 shows that the pattern was registered on the 22nd February 1884 to J & E A Ridgway
Devonshire 
Ridgways
Stoke-on-Trent

this mark with Stoke-on-Trent was 
generally used around 1885-1890

 

 

both of these marks were used on various pieces of the same dinner set  

 




meat serving platter  

the Devonshire pattern is in the aesthetic style 
it was produced in a polychrome pattern as well as the single colour version

photo courtesy: Gail Shepherd

 

 


blue transferware sugar bowl
the unnamed pattern is based on the Willow design but has some elements missing - such as as the two birds which are an essential part of the pattern story
typical Ridgways diamond 'semi china' mark

 The impressed 6/88 will be the month/year of manufacture - June 1888. The other impressed number is either a shape/size number or a workman’s number, similarly the blue 22 will likely be the decorators mark.

photos courtesy: Heidi Bates 

 

 


scalloped edge plate in the Muscatel pattern 

a popular Ridgway pattern, based on the Muscat grape 


Ridgways
Royal Semi Porcelain
England

the impressed 6-94 indicates that the
plate was made in June 1894 

photos courtesy: Janet White 

 

 

Marks used on ware for identification:

This was the first Ridgway business to use "Ridgways" (in the plural) prior to this the identification were initials or "Ridgway". 

 

Bow & Quiver marks:-

The bow and quiver trade mark was registered by Ridgways in 1880. 

 


the registration number 688 shows the design/shape was registered on 23rd January 1884

 


the registration number 72235 shows the design/pattern was registered on 20th April 1887 to J & E A Ridgway


the registration number 73316 
shows that the pattern was 
registered in 1887





Bow and quiver mark without any place name is generally c.1880-1885 - however this is not a had and fast rule as the example registered in April 1887 shows

Bow and quiver mark with 'Stoke-on-Trent' is generally c.1885-1890

Bow and quiver mark with 'England'

c.1891+

 

 

the use of the bow and quiver mark continued after 1920 - when the business was incorporated as Ridgway (Bedford Works) Ltd - usually the bow and quiver mark was then associated with the diamond mark

 

Diamond marks:-

Godden's Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks gives a date of c. 1927 for the introduction of the diamond mark (mark 3317)
this has been found to be incorrect - the following examples show that variations of the diamond mark were in use at least as early as 1885 and probably from the formation of the company in 1879/80...  

 

 


large platter in the Willow pattern 
Semi China
Ridgways
Stoke-on-Trent 

Bow and quiver mark with 'Stoke-on-Trent' was used c.1885-1890
impressed date mark giving the month/year of manufacture - in this instance 2/89 for February 1889  

 

 


the impressed date mark gives the month/year of manufacture - in this instance 11/13 for November 1913 

NOTE: The wording 'Engraved for W.Ridgway & Co 1832' refers to the fact that the pattern was first produced in 1832 by one of the former companies William Ridgway & Co. who operated in this period.

It does not mean that this ware was made in 1832

 

 


this mark is c. 1891+ (as it includes 'ENGLAND')

(it is not known what the small cross 
in the bottom corner signifies) 

 

 


Ridgways
Royal Semi Porcelain
England
the impressed 6-94 indicates that this
ware was made in June 1894 

the pattern name is often included

Godden's Encyclopaedia of British Pottery & Porcelain Marks
gives a date of 1905+ for the introduction of this style of mark
however the impressed 6-94 would indicate that it was in use
as early as 1894 

   

 


Ridgways
Vitrified
England

c.1912 +

the pattern name is often included

 

Reproduction of earlier patterns and marks:
 


Ridgways
W. R.
England 
Certain patterns and printed marks of William Ridgway and William Ridgway & Sons were reissued at later periods by this subsequent company Ridgways at the Bedford Works.  

  • If the mark has the name 'Ridgways' in the plural then is is from the later 1870-1920 period. 

  • If 'ENGLAND' is included then it is after 1891. 

 

 


The Bedford Works 

- click for more information -

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks