William Bennett (Hanley) Ltd

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 of Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper, William Bennett employed Mabel V Hodgkiss (a student of the Burslem School of Art). She was employed 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

W. Bennett
Hanley

Ruskin is the pattern name

photos courtesy: Christine Kingham

large plate in the Vana ware range

likely c. 1910-1920

Mabel V Hodgkiss

In the 1930s, in order to try to capitalise on the success of Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper, William Bennett employed Mabel V Hodgkiss (a student of the Burslem School of Art).

She was employed to design and decorate in the Deco style of the factories 'rivals'. Including Myott & Sons Ltd who produced Art Deco fan shaped vases.

Some pieces are marked with a registration number - all the known examples were registered in 1932.

an original three piece garniture
over time it is not unusual to find that the pieces have been separated

As well as these display sets Hodgkiss designed colourful but more restrained patterns for plates and dishes. Not all of these carried the Mabel V Hodgkiss name.

Art Deco style mantel garniture
Mabel V Hodgkiss

William Bennett
(Hanley) Ltd England
Designed by
Mabel V Hodgkiss

1930's

one end piece of what would have been a three piece display set

WB
William Bennett
(Hanley) Ltd England

impressed mark

the registration number 777433 shows
that the design was registered in 1932

the bowls carry the 'standard' circular
W. Bennett mark and the Hodgkins mark

floral hand decorated dessert bowls

hand decorated plate with floral design and Art Deco
influenced geometric shapes

W Bennett (Hanley) Ltd
Made in England

although the mark does not mention
Mabel V Hodgkiss the design is either by her or influenced by her

photos courtesy: Roslyn Woodfield

camber pot in a hand painted luster pattern

Cleve Art Ware
W. Bennett
(Hanley) Ltd

Godden records the 'Cleve' name
used 1930-37

Marks and initials used on ware for identification:

Marks vary - there was no set style of mark.

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' (named after the factory 'Cleveland Works' 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

likely c. 1910-1920

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