Manufacturer of earthenware the Bell Works, Albion Street and Church Works, Hanley, Stoke-upon-Trent, England

• The brothers John Ridgway and William Ridgway were in partnership at the Cauldon Works from 1814-30. 

• In 1830 the two brothers inherited the Bell Works from their uncle George, John kept the Cauldon Works and William moved to the Bell works.

• The Church Works were owned by Joseph Mayer who, in about 1832, rented part of the works to William Ridgway.

• William Ridgway was Joseph Mayer's cousin. Joseph Mayer had in his employ a 'clever modeller', Leonard James Abington, who was also a chemist, and around 1834 he placed him in partnership, thus making the '& Co' in William Ridgway & Co. 

• When Joseph Mayer ceased potting in 1832 he then let the majority of his works to W. Ridgway & Co., retained an oven and other parts of the works, 

• William Ridgway had financial difficulties and had been declared bankrupt in 1848. Equipment, material and engravings were sold to raise funds as part of the arrangement with his creditors and this enabled him to be discharged from the debt and continued manufacturing. Various sales were carried out from 1848 to 1855. 

  When he died in 1864 one of his obituaries said that he was "enterprising but lacked caution" Rodney Hampson, Pottery References in the Staffordshire Advertiser, p.99.  

W. Ridgway

Euphrates is the pattern name 

marks without '& Co' indicates a date 1830-34

The pattern is titled 'souvenir' but is variously known as 'Have and Have-Nots' and
'Learning Lessons'

Most commonly produced in mulberry but also in black and dark green - there were variations in the pattern with greater detail and fuller borders. A complete range of dinner ware was made both in full and in miniature sizes.  

 “…a large central urn with two children on each side, those on the left with a globe and reading a book, while those on the right are in rags with discarded irons at their feet; the border is of scrolls, trellis and flowers.” Maurice and Evelyn Milbourn, ‘Understanding Miniature British Pottery & Porcelain,’ Figure 136, p 112.

Some ware was not marked, especially the child's miniature sets.  

published by
W. RIDGWAY & Co
HANLEY
October 1, 1835

impressed mark 

The jug is decorated with relief moulded designs and figures, 
which are scenes from the Robert Burns poem about Tam O'Shanter.

raised pad on the base of the jug 

the backstamp is on an applied pad of clay  
the mark displays an urn and anchor in relief along with 
W. Ridgway & Co. impressed along a ribbon banner at the bottom.

1834-54

"A river scene with Eastern buildings within a floral border containing medallions with the same small view.
Marmora, also known as Marmara is an island in the Sea of Marmora which lies between the Black Sea and the Aegean. It is famous for its marble quarries" Coysh & Henrywood 

Note that there are are variations in this pattern, some have differing small views in the border and there are examples with an expanded centre view. 

W R & Co
Marmora

a printed mark with an urn and anchor
MARMORA is the pattern name 

the inclusion of '& Co' indicates 
a date 1834-54

W R & Co
Marmora

a plate in the Flosculous pattern 

the pattern has several groups of idealised flowers radiating from a central rococo style scroll motif - the edge has four areas of cast-in raised flowers

the Collins Dictionary defines the word flosculous as "lowery; abounding in flowers" 

1834-54

Tyrolean was a series of Alpine scenes with mountains, 
buildings & figures and used on a wide range of wares.

1834-54

Opaque Granite China was Ridgway's version of ironstone  

mark incorporates the lion & unicorn 
of the British Royal Arms

1834-54

generally marks without '& Co' indicate a date 1830-34 
however marks with the just the 
'W R' initials appear to have continued until 1854 

W R & Co
Marmora

The Victorians were fascinated with Asia and the Far East and a number pottery companies produced many patterns with pseudo-oriental views - these were romantic, made-up scenes, generally with trees, lakes, mountains, buildings & people variously arranged.

William Ridgway produced a series of at least four views, called Oriental. "A series of romantic scenes within a medallion border marked with a typical Ridgway urn and beehive cartouche" Coysh and Henrywood p.266

Sale of engravings, blocks & moulds: 

William Ridgway had financial difficulties and had been declared bankrupt in 1848. Equipment, material and engravings were sold to raise funds as part of the arrangement with his creditors and this enabled him to be discharged from the debt and continued manufacturing. Various sales were carried out from 1848 to 1855. 

When he died in 1864 one of his obituaries said that he was "enterprising but lacked caution" Rodney Hampson, Pottery References in the Staffordshire Advertiser, p.99.  

Evidently Walker & Carter (1866-1889) purchased some of the ORIENTAL engravings.

This mark appears on a plate with one the Ridgway Oriental views. The style of the initials indicate that the plate was made by Walker & Carter. 

Edward John Ridgway, son of William Ridgway, continued in business. In 1866 production was transferred to the newly-built Bedford Road Works, Shelton. 

In 1879 the business traded as 'Ridgways' - the ORIENTAL pattern was reintroduced, the mark retaining the urn, beehive and 'JW' initials - however the inclusion of the name Ridgways shows a post 1879 date. 

In 1920 the business was incorporated under the name Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd., production of the ORIENTAL pattern continued. 

The inclusion of the name 'Ridgways' (in the plural) shows that the ware then it is from the later 1879-1952 period. 

Sometimes an impressed date mark will show when the ware was made. 

the impressed 8/17 is the month/year of 
manufacture - in this case August 1917

so the ware was made by Ridgways who 
operated from 1879 to 1920

 impressed 10/27 gives a manufacturing 
date of  October 1927

so the ware was made by 
Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd 
who operated from 1920 to 1952

The Bell works 
In 1830 the two brothers, John & William Ridgway, 
inherited the Bell Works from their uncle George.
John stayed at the Cauldon Works and William took the Bell Works.

- click for more on the Bell Works -

The Church works 

The Church Works were owned by Joseph Mayer who, in about 1832, 
rented part of the works to William Ridgway.

- click for more on the Church Works -