Bedford Works, Bedford Road.—These extensive works were built by Edward John Ridgway, son of William Ridgway, in November, 1866, and to them he removed from the Church Works, High Street, where he had, until then, carried on business in partnership with Mr. Abington. In 1870, Mr. E. J. Ridgway took his sons into partnership, and the concern was carried on as E. J. Ridgway & Son. In 1872, Mr. E. J. Ridgway retired from the business, leaving it to his two sons, Messrs. John, and Edward Ackroyd Ridgway, who were joined in partnership by Mr. Joseph Sparks, and continue the business under the title of Ridgway, Sparks, & Ridgway. Their productions include all classes of fine useful earthenware, jet, stone, terra cotta, and jasper, of very superior bodies and decoration, for the home, American, and Continental markets. One of the great specialities of the firm is their jet ware, highly decorated in raised enamel “after the Limoges ware.” In these a remarkable richness, beauty, and delicacy are obtained, and the designs, as well as the treatment of the foliage and figures, are artistic and well considered for effect. The jet ware thus decorated and highly gilt is of the very finest quality and of the highest degree of excellence in design and manipulative treatment; in this the Bedford Works are pre-eminent. Another speciality is relief decoration on various stoneware bodies, and these are faultless in their taste and excellent in their workmanship. The jasper (in which both tone of colour of the body and the beauty of detail in the groups and foliage and borders of the relief decoration in white, remind one forcibly of the later productions of the Wedgwood’s) tea-pots and other articles are produced and rank high as achievements of Ceramic Art. Mosaic or inlaid decoration is also successfully carried out by the firm, and their ordinary stoneware jugs and other articles are remarkable for purity of design, the high relief of their ornament, the hardness and compactness of their body, and the beauty of their workmanship. The mark used by the firm on their white goods is the Staffordshire knot, enclosing the letters R. S. R.
S
R R
Mayer Street Works.—Mr. Samuel Lear has erected a small china works on part of the site of the old manufactory, which includes as warerooms and offices the residence of the Mayers. Mr. Lear produces common domestic china, and, in addition, decorates in the ordinary way all kinds of earthenware made by other manufacturers; a speciality being spirit-kegs.
Mayer Street.—Mrs. Massey carries on a small earthenware works on part of the site of the same old works just mentioned, including the stables and coach and cart-houses of the Mayers. Her productions are of the commoner classes.
Cannon Street.—These works, dating back to the beginning of the present century, were for many years carried on by Mr. Thos. Ford, who here commenced business. Mr. Ford has since built a larger manufactory in the same street. The manufactory is now carried on by Mr. Edward Steele, who produces earthenware of the more ordinary qualities, stoneware of good useful character, majolica, and Parian. In stoneware all the usual useful classes of goods are made, and many of the designs and workmanship are of good character. In majolica both useful and ornamental goods are made, and consist of jugs, tea-pots, brackets, flower vases, dessert services with figure centre-pieces, comports, etc.; the designs in many instances are artistic, and the quality, both of the body and colouring, of more than average excellence. Parian statuary is one of the specialities of the firm and is very extensively made; some hundreds of different single figures, groups, busts, and animals, besides numbers of ornamental articles, being issued. The quality is superior to many for the American markets, and the modelling of the figures is artistic and clear. Many of them are of large size, and are produced with remarkable skill. Mr. Steele uses no mark.