Church Works Patterns

Church Works, Hanley, Occupation Periods

There is some considerable doubt as to when William Ridgway bought the Church Works from the executors of J D Bagster. There is some reason to suppose it was before his partnership with his brother John ended. Leonard Stanley Abington was a modeller who worked for Phillips and Bagster and became the "& Co" with William Ridgway. He appears to have been the artist responsible for the moulded jugs and other wares.

The Church Works was run in parallel with the Cobden Works, Hanley, formerly owned by Elijah Mayer, between c.1832 and 1848.

In 1866 E J Ridgway relocated to the then new Bedford Works. The products of that factory are outside the scope of this survey.

I ought, at this point, to enter a word of caution. The above information has been assembled by me from a variety of sources primarily, but not only, Dr Godden's various publications. However, the publications do not always agree on every point and the information does, therefore, need further checking. Also, apart from the early traveller's book in the possession of Dr Godden, I have been unable to trace any pattern information at all. The wares illustrated have been tracked down by the hard work of pattern, shape and mark matching. I have specifically excluded any wares that I have doubts about. Given those provisos, the list is as accurate as I can make it but I accept may be open to challenge. I would be grateful to anyone who has contrary information, if they would share it with me.

Numbered Patterns

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33	Pompeii Shape Jug with Britannia Metal lid. Blue coloured earthenware. Multicoloured raised flower sprigs with gilt highlights.
60	Set of three Pompeii Shape jugs. Blue coloured earthenware. Multicoloured raised flower sprigs as pattern 33 but with orange highlights.
153	Minature jug. Blue coloured earthenware. Single multicoloured raised flower sprig on each side of jug. Gilt highlights, edge and tracery on handle.
343	Mug. Blue coloured earthenware. Multicoloured raised flower sprigs with gilt highlights. Gilt edge inside and out, spikes on handle.