William Bennett (Hanley) Ltd






 

Location and period of operation:

William Bennett

Hanley

1882  

1922

William Bennett (Hanley) Ltd

Hanley

1922  

1937

 

Earthenware manufacturer at the Cleveland Works, Victoria Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • William Bennett operated at the Cleveland Works which were purpose built for him in 1880.  

  • In 1922 the business must have faced financial difficulties as it was renamed William Bennett (Hanley) Ltd. 

  • In the 1930s, in order to try to imitate the success Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper, William Bennett employed Mabel V Hodgkiss (a student of the Burslem School of Art) and was employed at William Bennett in the 1930's to design and decorate in the Deco style of the factories 'rivals'. 

  • The company stopped manufacturing in 1937 and was dissolved 16 December 1938


 

 


William Bennett
Earthenware Manufacturer
 Victoria Road, Hanley, Staffordshire

The Pottery Gazette, January 1885 

 


 
Soap dish in the 'Kolo' pattern

1882-1922

 



 
hand coloured brown transfer ware jug in the fruit pattern

1882-1922

likely c. 1882-1900

 


 
large plate in the Vana ware range

likely c. 1910-1920

 

 

 
Art Deco style mantel garniture 
by Mabel V Hodgkiss

1930's

 

 


hand decorated dessert bowl 

 

  
W. Bennett
Hanley

Ruskin is the pattern name  

photos courtesy: Christine Kingham

 

 

Marks and initials used on ware for identification:

Early marks have the initials WB and other marks include 'H' or Hanley - the town where the works were located.  Often the pattern name is included, sometimes a trade name 'Vana Ware' was used. These marks are 1882 to 1922.

After 1922 the marks include Hanley as part of the company name - 'William Bennett (Hanley) Ltd.' These marks are 1922 to 1937.

The trade name 'Cleve ware' was introduced in 1930.  

W.B.
H

 

W BENNETT
HANLEY

 

WILLIAM BENNETT
HANLEY



W Bennett
Hanley

Kolo is the pattern name

1882 -1922
W Bennett
Hanley

'Vana Ware' is a trade name

1882 -1922

 



W. B.
Hanley

FRUIT is the pattern name

1882 -1922

 



Guaranteed to
conform to GOVI
standards to prevent
lead poisoning.
William Bennett
Hanley

c. 1899 - 1922

The reference to prevention of lead poisoning is likely to be an advertising gimmick as the restrictions of lead in pottery glazes was primarily designed to prevent health injury to factory employees and not the general public.   

Although lead could potentially leach out of improperly fired cooking / eating ware this mark was found on a wash bowl and so there would be no possibility of public health issues through ingestion. 

Through various Factory Acts workplace safety was improved and in 1899 it was a requirement that no more than 5% standard solubility of lead would be allowed in glazes.

Although sometimes difficult to enforce, as a result of these improvements the incidence of lead poising declined significantly.  

Evidently William Bennett adhered to the government restrictions on the use of lead and wanted to emphasise this.     

 

 


William Bennett
(Hanley) Ltd England
Mabel V Hodgkiss

Mabel V Hodgkiss was a student of the Burslem School of Art,
 she was employed at William Bennett in the 1930's to design 
and  decorate in the Deco style of the factories 'rivals'. 
Taking inspiration from Myott and Clarice Cliff, 
little is known of Mabel V Hodgkiss.



William Bennett
(Hanley) Limited 
England

printed mark used c. 1922-37

 


Cleve Ware 
 printed mark used c.1930-37

 

 


1925 map showing the Cleveland Works on Victoria Road (now called College Road)

Blue - Washington Works of Wardle & Co
Red - Cleveland Works of William Bennett
Green - Atlas Works of Gosling & Gatensbury 

 



the frontage of the Cleveland Works

 


the entrance gate to the Cleveland Works

 


WB   1880    WB
Cleveland - Works

Ambrose Wood - Architect      E. Gibson - Builder

 

 Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks