Bell Works Patterns
Bell Works Occupation Periods
| George & Job Ridgway | c.1792-1802 | |
| George Ridgway (& Sons) | 1802-1815 | |
| J (& W) Ridgway & Co. | 1815-1830 | |
| William Ridgway | 1830-1854 |
John and William Ridgway 1815-1830
The following patterns have been considered as originating from the Bell Works whilst under the joint control of John and William Ridgway. This was first proposed by the late Dr Geoffrey Godden in his books on the Ridgway factories. However, I have reason to doubt this for the following reasons:
1. The only known pattern book formerly in the possession of Dr Godden was later reused in the time of John Ridgway, Bates & Co, which implies it originated in Cauldon Place and not the Bell Works.
2. The known sprig moulds for these wares are impressed "Ridgway" on the side. This mark is, as far as I am aware, only found on wares produced at Cauldon Place.
3. The bone china wares made using the same moulds and sprigging are considered to originate at Cauldon Place.
4. Records indicate that George Ridgway before and William Ridgway after only used the Bell Works to produce plain earthenwares in white or transfer printed implying that only these sorts of wares were made at the works between those periods.
However, for the sake of ease of finding the patterns, I have left them listed here rather than Cauldon Place.
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| 31 | Mask jug. Drab turned body, full glaze. | |
| 35 | Tapered Mug, spurred loop handle with shell mounts. Sprigged in white on drab body. Griffin & cherub with arabesques each side. Vase opposite handle. Vine circlet round top. |  |
| 38 | Tapered Mug, plain loop handle. Sprigged in white on chocolate body. Bacchanalian Boys with vase or jug each side. Goat & 2 boys opposite handle. Circlet of spear shape leaves round top |  |
| 245 | Spill Vase. Drab body, leaf handles, white sprigs, lyre & wreath each side, fern leaves top & foot, geometric leaves at base, pearls round lip. |  |
| 269 | Tapered Mug, spurred loop handle. Chocolate body, white sprigs, rams heads with flower swags, lyre & wreath in each swag, circlet of leafy arabesques round top. |  |
| 471 | 10 inch and 7 inch Pillar Candlesticks. Drab body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads. |  |
| 472 mug | Taper Mug. White body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads. |  |
| 472 candlestick | 10 inch and 9 inch Pillar Candlesticks. White body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads. |  |
| 482 | High-sided Chamber Stick. Lilac body entirely covered with tightly packed rosette flower heads. |  |
William Ridgway 1830-1854
The following patterns are the only ones in the collection that can with any certainty be attributed to the Bell Works under William Ridgway. No numbered patterns have come to light. The bulk of the output was probably mostly basic useful wares, the majority of which were unmarked. The shape name 'Albion' was the name used at the Broad Street Works. Since wares of all the factories in William's control appear to have been marketed using the same agents (regardless of partnership involved) and since there is no evidence to the contrary I have assumed the shape names used at Broad Street were used in all his factories.
| Floral (brown) | Coffee pot in flowing style. EW body. Flower basket & sprigs print. Arab style arcading round foot, lip & lid | |
| "Grecian" | 'Albion' shape table ware. EW body. Printed in blue. Complex floral border round Venetian? scene of 3 gondolas with figures, bridge & palazzo, statue of Apollo & lion guarding steps to water, 3 figures by steps, 1 seated playing cello whilst another holds music. |  |
| "Oriental" | 'Albion' shape table ware. EW body. Printed in blue. Centre print of oriental buildings with 3 figures in foreground, one standing with spear on shoulder & 2 seated, one with rifle. Palm tree to left. More buildings & mountains in distance. Floral border with alternating reserves of flowers & buildings. |  |
| "Persian" (puce) | 'Albion' shape table ware. Printed in puce. Centre large vase of flowers with fantastic sailing boat to left, buildings in distance, mountains behind; border floral with leaf scrolling. |  |