Bleak Hill Works.—Messrs. Beech & Podmore, of the Bell Works (which see), entered upon this manufactory in 1876. The works formerly belonged to Messrs. Moore Brothers, who produced the white graniteware for the American Markets, then successively to M. Isaacs and Son, Beech and Podmore, and Podmore alone. The goods now produced, besides tea and other services, are the ordinary marketable china and Parian chimney ornaments and toys, which are produced in large quantities both for home sale and for exportation to the United States, the East Indies, the Netherlands, and Australia. In Parian and “ivory body,” besides flower-vases and other small ornaments, some tolerably large groups have been produced; the “ivory body” possesses great softness in appearance, and is capable of being made largely available for ornamental purposes.
Sytch Pottery.—Of very old foundation, this was, many years ago worked by Messrs. Keeling. The “Sytch Pottery” passed successively into the hands of Mr. R. Hall and Messrs. J. Hall & Sons. About 1832, Messrs. Barker, Sutton, & Till took to the works; but at subsequent periods, Mr. Barker and Mr. Sutton withdrew from the partnership; and from 1850 it remained in the hands of Mr. Thomas Till, who has been joined in partnership with his sons, and the firm is now “Thomas Till & Sons.” The wares usually produced have been good middle-class earthenware; but the present proprietors have greatly improved the ware, and added other branches to their manufacture. Besides earthenware of the usual average quality—in which services and innumerable useful articles are made by them—Messrs. Till produce coloured bodies of various kinds (cane, sage, drab, and lilac); stoneware of a hard and durable kind for jugs, &c.; jet glazed ware; terra cotta; enamelled ware; and various coloured lustres. These are principally intended for the home trade. At the Paris Exhibition of 1855 the firm received a certificate of merit. The mark used is the name of the firm.
Kiln Croft Works.—These works are of old establishment. In or about 1800 they were carried on by a Mr. Handley, and in 1825, by Messrs. James and Thomas Edwards, who were succeeded by Messrs. Willett & Marsh. They were then continued by Mr. Marsh alone, and next by Messrs. T. & R. Boote, who were succeeded by the present owner, Mr. Henry Burgess. The goods produced are the usual quality of white graniteware, in services and various articles, for the United States and Canadian markets. The mark is the Royal Arms, with the name or initials of the firm.
The Albert Pottery was built in 1860, by Mr. William Smith, of Tunstall; on whose failure in 1862 it was taken by Messrs. Dix & Tundley, of Silverdale, for the production of foreign-trade goods. In 1864 the works were purchased by the late Mr. Charles Hobson (who had originally been apprenticed to Mr. Williamson, the predecessor of the Davenports, at Longport), and successfully carried on by him until his death, in 1875. Mr. Hobson was then succeeded by his two sons, George and John Hobson, by whom they are continued. By Mr. Hobson the works were considerably enlarged. New biscuit ovens were added, and flint and colour mills, steam slip-house, pug mills, and sagger makers’ mill, built. The productions of the firm are now confined to the home trade, and consist of the usual services and other articles, in ordinary earthenware, both white, printed, lined, enamelled, and gilt.
Waterloo Works.—These works were established about 1846 by Mr. James Vernon; then continued under the style of James Vernon & Son; and are now carried on by the son, Mr. James Vernon, jun., for the manufacture of ordinary earthenware for the South American and Italian markets. On this same site a manufactory was at one time carried on by Mr. Jonathan Leak, a clever potter, who after some strange vicissitudes went to Sydney, where, after a time, discovering a valuable bed of clay, he established the first pottery in Australia. He married a niece of Enoch Wood.