Fig. 456.
Fig. 457.
Wilson.—Robert Wilson, the successor to the firm of Neale & Wilson, continued the manufactory, but devoted himself mainly to cream-coloured earthenware, more or less decorated. His name is occasionally met with simply as WILSON impressed in the body of the ware, and occasionally in connection with a crown and the distinctive mark C (Fig. [457]). Robert Wilson was for a long time sole manager to Neales; and he, and the still more celebrated potter, Elijah Mayer, whose works and residence were just opposite the Church Works, married two sisters of the name of Mayer, but of different families. After the retirement or death of Wilson his brother David carried on the works (1802). It was afterwards D. Wilson & Sons; then Assignees of Wilson; then Phillips & Bagster. The Phillips of this firm was Jacob, brother to Jonathan Phillips, of Oxford Street, London, and uncle to the present Messrs. Phillips of Oxford Street. The firm was then Bagster alone for a while, after which the manufactory and house adjoining, where Bagster had resided, came into the market and were purchased by Joseph Mayer, son and successor of Elijah Mayer, whose works and residence, as I said before, were immediately opposite the road. The Church Works were then (1831) rented by William Ridgway & Co., Mr. Ridgway being Joseph Mayer’s cousin; and I should here mention that Job Ridgway, the father of William and John Ridgway, had married the sister of Elijah Mayer, Joseph’s father. Joseph Mayer had in his employ a clever modeller named Leonard James Abington, who was also a fair chemist, and so much in favour with his employer that the latter placed him in partnership with William Ridgway, and he was the ‘Co.’ It was shortly after this (about 1833) that Joseph Mayer ceased potting, and let his works to William Ridgway & Co. in addition to the Church Works. He, however, retained some warehouses and stabling offices adjoining his residence, and had these crammed with some of the best of his stock, Egyptian black, cane, chocolate, brown, and Queen’s ware, some of the latter elaborately perforated and painted—an indescribable jumble of most beautiful pottery,—and there it remained locked up until his death in 1860. To return to the Church Works: the next addition to the firm, as soon as he was old enough to enter it, was William Ridgway’s son, Edward John, the title of the firm being changed to William Ridgway, Son & Co. In course of time William Ridgway retiring, the two manufactories were carried on by his son, Edward John Ridgway, and L. J. Abington, and it was styled Ridgway & Abington. It was ultimately Edward John Ridgway alone, and is now Powell & Bishop, Mr. E. J. Ridgway having built large works in Bedford Road called the Bedford Works.
The New Hall Works are historically interesting as being the first in which porcelain was successfully made in Staffordshire, and to them, therefore, must be ascribed the introduction of that art into “the Potteries,” since become so famous and so extensive. In my account of the Bristol china works[51] I have shown how Richard Champion’s patent (who had purchased the patent right of William Cookworthy, of Plymouth,) was sold to a company of Staffordshire potters. This transfer of rights took place in or about the year 1777. The company consisted of six persons, viz., Samuel Hollins, of Shelton, Anthony Keeling, of Tunstall, John Turner, of Lane End, Jacob Warburton, of Hot Lane, William Clowes, of Port Hill, and Charles Bagnall, of Shelton. Of these six persons the following are brief notices:—
Samuel Hollins, a maker of the fine red-ware tea-pots, &c., from the clay at Bradwell, previously worked by the brothers Elers, was of Shelton, and was the son of Mr. Hollins, of the Upper Green, Hanley. He was an excellent practical potter, and made many improvements in his art. He was afterwards one of the partners of the New Hall China Works, and his successors in the manufactory were his sons, Messrs. T. & J. Hollins.
Anthony Keeling, of Tunstall, was son-in-law of the celebrated potter, Enoch Booth, having married his daughter Ann. Keeling succeeded Enoch Booth in his business, which he carried on successfully for many years. He erected a large house near the works, but in 1810, retired on a small independence to Liverpool, where he died a few years afterwards. He was the principal support of a small sect calling themselves “Sandemanians,” who had their place of worship in his works.