“Telwright.—That wur a queer trick, wur it no’, o’ Rafy Dennil’s?
“Leigh.—Dun yo’ meeon th’ cause o’ his gooin’ to France, or es ha he geet int’ th’ work hâisn theer, an seed’n aw ha they did’n wi ther ware?
“Telwright.—Oi meeon him foindin’ aat i’ whot wey they mayd’n ther mewds (moulds).
“Leigh.—That wur a fawse trick, for sartin, an o’ gret yewse to th’ treyde. Bu’ wot a blunder th’ mesters here mayd’n, when he sent ’em word abaat it!
“Telwright.—Haa dust meeon, Rafy? Oi am no’ properly insens’t on’t.
“Leigh.—Whoy, yo’ seyn as haa they geet’n th’ plaster-ston’ fro’ Darbyshur aw reet; bu’ then, i’stid o’ fust groindin’ it an’ bakin’ into dust loike fleawr, an usin’ th’ dust wi wayter for t’ cast on th’ moddills, as they cawn ’em, th’ mesters had th’ raw ston’ cut i shapes, an’ tryd’n for t’ mak things oof ’em; bu’ they cudna. Then at last he sent ’em full word haa to dew it.”
Hard paste porcelain continued to be made at New Hall until about the year 1810 or 1812, when the bone paste, which had been gradually making its way in the district, finally superseded it, and the company continued their works on the newer system. In 1825 the entire stock of the concern, which had for a short time been carried on for the firm by a person named Tittensor, was sold off, and the manufacture of china of any description entirely ceased at New Hall.
The works, after having been closed for a short time, were next opened as an earthenware manufactory by Mr. William Ratcliffe, who for a few years continued to make the commoner description of white and printed earthenware for ordinary home consumption. They next passed, in 1842, into the hands of Messrs. W. Hackwood & Son, who removed from their works near Joiner Square (now called the “Eastwood Pottery”) for that purpose; and seven years later, Mr. Hackwood senior having died, they were continued by the son, Thomas Hackwood. The goods were the ordinary descriptions of earthenware, principally for Continental markets, and bore the name of HACKWOOD impressed. In 1856, they passed into the hands of Messrs. Cockson & Harding, who continued to manufacture the same descriptions of goods, using for a mark C & H, late Hackwood, impressed on the bottom.
In 1862, Mr. Cockson having retired from the concern, the works were carried on by the remaining partners, Messrs. W. and J. Harding (Brothers), who did an extensive trade with Holland and Italy. Besides the cream-coloured and printed wares for foreign trade, druggists’ fittings formed a staple branch. Black, Egyptian, Rockingham, and tinted wares too were made. In 1872 Messrs. Harding gave up the business, when Mr. John Aynsley, china manufacturer, of Longton, purchased the back portion of the works and let it to its present occupiers, Messrs. Thomas Booth & Sons. The entire front of the New Hall Works was purchased by Mr. Henry Hall, metal mounter of jugs, tea-pots, &c., so that the manufactory became divided into two distinct properties. The portion occupied by Messrs. Booth having been burnt down has been rebuilt.
The productions of Messrs. Booth & Sons are the usual classes of ordinary earthenware in printed, painted, enamelled and gilt services; stone ware of good quality, in which a large variety of jugs and tea-pots are made; and jasper ware, in various ornamental articles. Among their shapes of toilet ware are the “Eldon,” “Globe,” “Alexandra,” and “Cottage;” and among their specialities in other goods are a self-closing hot-water jug, and a molasses jug, which are considered very successful.