Bell Works Patterns

Bell Works Occupation Periods

John and William Ridgway 1815-1830

The following patterns have been considered as originating from the Bell Works whilst under the joint control of John and William Ridgway. This was first proposed by Dr Geoffrey Godden in his books on the Ridgway factories. However, I have reason to doubt this for the following reasons:

1. The only known pattern book in the possession of Dr Godden was later reused in the time of John Ridgway, Bates & Co, which implies it originated in Cauldon Place and not the Bell Works.
2. The known sprig moulds for these wares are impressed 'Ridgway' on the side. This mark is, as far as I am aware, only found on wares produced at Cauldon Place.
3. The bone china wares made using the same moulds and sprigging are considered to originate at Cauldon Place.
4. Records indicate that George Ridgway before and William Ridgway after only used the Bell Works to produce plain earthenwares in white or blue and white implying that only these sorts of wares were made at the works between those periods.

However, for the sake of ease of finding the patterns, I have left them listed here rather than Cauldon Place.

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31	Mask jug. Drab turned body, full glaze.
35	Tapered Mug, spurred loop handle with shell mounts. Sprigged in white on drab body. Griffin & cherub with arabesques each side. Vase opposite handle. Vine circlet round top.
36	Mask jug. Sprigged in white on chocolate body. Griffin & cherub with arabesques each side. Vase under spout. Vine circlet round top.
37	Upright jug with pinched spout & plain handle. Sprigged in white on drab body. Bacchanalian Boys with vase or jug each side. Goat & 2 boys under spout. Circlet of spear shape leaves round top.
38	Tapered Mug, plain loop handle. Sprigged in white on chocolate body. Bacchanalian Boys with vase or jug each side. Goat & 2 boys opposite handle. Circlet of spear shape leaves round top
40	Upright jug with pinched spout & plain handle. Chocolate turned body. White sprigged circlet of spear shape leaves round top.
121	Spill Vase. Drab ground with angled handles, white sprigs, lilies & daisies round lip, daisies round upper neck & upper body, ferns rpund lower neck & foot, floral arbesques round body.
222	Bulbous Jug. Slate body sprigged white with arabesque of flowers round body & circlet of quatrefoils round neck. Turning round base, leaf spout & handle.
229	Upright jug with pinched spout & plain handle. Sprigged in white on slate body. Bacchanalian Boys with vase or jug each side. Goat & 2 boys under spout. Circlet of spear shape leaves round top.
245	Spill Vase. Drab body, leaf handles, white sprigs, lyre & wreath each side, fern leaves top & foot, geometric leaves at base, pearls round lip.
269	Tapered Mug, spurred loop handle. Chocolate body, white sprigs, rams heads with flower swags, lyre & wreath in each swag, circlet of leafy arabesques round top.
296	Shouldered Tapered Jug. Slate body, white feather & lampost sprigs round body, arabesque circlet of leaves round neck.
425	Tea wares similar to Cauldon Royal shape. Straw turned body, green sprigs. Childhood of Zeus panels with goat, Zeus & 2 nymphs between bushes; plants under handles; circlet of leaves round shoulder & lid; green rose knob.
438	Mask Jug. White body, sprigged in blue with single flower groups each side & opposite handle, circle of flowers round top.
446	Angular Hexagonal Jug. White body, blue floral & acanthus sprigs.
467	Angular Hexagonal Jug. White body, lilac floral sprigs.
471	Pillar Candlestick. Drab body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads.
472	Bulbous Hexagonal Jug, Taper Mug, Pillar Candlestick, Covered Bowl & Stand. White body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads.
482	Bulbous Hexagonal Jug, High-sided Chamber Stick, Covered Bowl & Stand. Lilac body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads.
500	Ewer Jug with moulded grape edge. Drab body moulded with vine & grapes round lip, linen fold on neck and turned body. Gilt edge & tracing on handle.

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William Ridgway 1830-1854

The following patterns are the only ones in the collection that can with any certainty be attributed to the Bell Works under William Ridgway. No numbered patterns have come to light. The bulk of the output was probably mostly basic useful wares, the majority of which were unmarked. The shape name 'Albion' was the name used at the Broad Street Works. Since wares of all the factories in William's control appear to have been marketed using the same agents (regardless of partnership involved) and since there is no evidence to the contrary I have assumed the shape names used at Broad Street were used in all his factories.