Victoria Works, for many years carried on by Mr. S. Ginders, are now held by Mr. James Reeves, who produces the more ordinary qualities of earthenware.
Fenton Potteries.—The goods produced are of the commoner class of printed, sponged, and pearl-white granite wares suitable for British North American, United States, West Indian, African, and Indian markets. None are produced for the home trade. The works are carried on by Messrs. W. Baker & Co., who were awarded a medal at the Paris Exhibition.
Fenton Pottery.—This was established in 1825, by Messrs. C. J. & G. M. Mason, for the manufacture of their famous “Ironstone China” ware (which see). “The works of C. J. Mason & Co.,” says Ward, in 1843, “standing obliquely to two turnpike-roads, and on the line of the Canal Company’s railway, present an extensive front of four stories in height, inscribed in large letters ‘Patent Ironstone China Manufactory.’ For this article of trade, which Messrs. G. & C. J. Mason introduced some years ago, they obtained extensive public favour, and an almost exclusive sale, on account of its resemblance to porcelain, and its very superior hardness and durability.” Messrs. Mason were succeeded by Mr. Samuel Boyle, from whom the works passed into the hands of Messrs. E. & C. Challinor, formerly E. Challinor & Co. of Sandyford and Tunstall, who still carry them on. The goods produced are white granite, printed, sponged, and common earthenware, for the American, Australian, and other foreign and colonial markets. In these, tea, coffee, breakfast, dinner, toilet, and other services, and all the usual useful articles, are largely produced. The white granite, or ironstone china, is of good, hard, sound, and durable quality; some of their most successful embossed patterns being the Ceres or Wheat, the Garland, and the Vine-leaf patterns. In jugs, Messrs. Challinor produce the Ceres or Wheat, Paris, Garland, Barberry, Lily, Missouri, Florence, Versailles, Lotus or Cora, and other shapes, both plain and embossed. The earthenware is of the ordinary common quality, specially designed and well adapted for the various markets to which it is sent.
The marks are the Staffordshire knot
impressed in the ware—
E & C CHALLINOR
FENTON