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, 

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

A number of patterns and printed marks were reissued at later periods by a subsequent company:- Ridgways at the Bedford Works.  

• If the mark has the name 'Ridgways' (in the plural) then it is from the later 1879-1920 period.