Church Works and Broad Street Works
'Clarendon' Table and Dessert Shape
The 'Clarendon' shape appears to have been introduced by William Ridgway at his Church and Cobden Works partnership, and then passed the moulds to the Broad Street Works. Distinguishing between the products of the two firms is thankfully not too difficult. From pattern 371 all Broad Street numbers have a 3/ prefix. The stoneware bodies were restricted to the Broad Street Works. Where life does get a little difficult is that both factories used the standard earthenware body and were not above running down the road to the other factory when a production run ran short. We can then find pieces with Church Works impressed marks and Broad Street Works patterns, which causes no end of confusion.
William Ridgway, Son, & Co.
Ridgway, Morley, Wear, & Co.
Ridgway & Morley
Pattern 3/529 'Rock & flowers'
Pattern 3/776 'Rock & flowers'
Pattern 3/960 'Rock & flowers'
Pattern 3/997 'Rock & flowers'
Francis Morley & Co.
Morley & Ashworth
G. L. Ashworth & Bros.
Pattern 3/1321 'Chinese Birds'
Pattern 3/1733 'Grecian Vase & Ewer'
Church Works and Cobden Works
"Union"
For tea wares in this pattern see here.
At first I thought that the subject matter of this print, as usual, bore no relation to the name. I then observed what the two boys at the foot of the central urn were doing. The boy on the right has a loose bundle of sticks and is breaking each one individually across his knee. The boy on the left, however, has a bundle of sticks that are tightly bound together, and therefore cannot be broken. This is a version of what came to be known in English radical circles as 'the parable of the sticks'. Hence a 'union' of many is stronger than each individual alone. The Ridgways were Methodists in religion and Liberals in politics, so the use of this symbol is hardly surprising.
The soup plate is 264mm in diameter. Earthenware.
Unfortunately the print is not sharply defined, so this is the best detail shot I could get. See Pattern 1471 below for a clearer print.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 681
This is the only example I have come across of the 'Clarendon' shape having a moulded border, which has been carefully picked out by the artist in green. The central star is a transfer. It is a very low pattern number, which caused me to wonder if the shape had originally been designed with a moulded border, which was afterwards dropped.
The dessert plate or twiffler is 234mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 771
The leaf dessert dish is 279mm long and 210mm wide. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
The number cannot be "144" because we have the early pattern book now in the Potteries Museum that clearly shows the pattern and this is not it. So is it "771"? It could be, but it is odd that the number is written the other way up to normal. It is also possible that a number is missing from the beginning or end. Hopefully another piece will turn up to settle this.
Photos © Gay Jungemann ~ Ruby Lane 2022
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Pattern 938
The leaf dessert dish is 273mm long and 203mm wide. Blue stoneware.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 965
The comport. Earthenware.
The oval dish. Earthenware.
The leaf dish. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Photos © William Hufford 2019
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Pattern 1094
The dessert plate of twiffler is 230mm in diameter. Earthenware with a slightly greenish glaze.
The impressed mark reads: "RIDGWAY, SON & Co.".
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 1096
The part dessert service. Earthenware.
The centrepiece is 187mm tall, 337mm long, and 286mm wide. Earthenware.
The rectangular dessert dish is 292mm long and 232mm wide. Earthenware.
The square dessert dish is 270mm long and 247mm wide. Earthenware.
The leaf dessert dish is 274mm long and 203mm wide. Earthenware.
The dessert plate is 232mm in diameter. Earthenware.
Photos © jockjenantiques.com 2022
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Pattern 1169
The oval dessert dish is 294mm long and 232mm wide. Earthenware.
The leaf dessert dish is 277mm long and 206mm wide. Earthenware.
The dessert plate is 232mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The impressed marks read: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 1311
The oval dish. Earthenware with a slightly greenish glaze.
The square dish. Earthenware with a slightly greenish glaze.
The dessert plate. Earthenware with a slightly greenish glaze.
The impressed marks read: "W. RIDGWAY, SON, & Co. / HANLEY".
The presence of this mark, rather than the more usual "RIDGWAY, SON & Co." leads me to think this may be a later reissue of the pattern.
Photos © Jayne Ronan 2019
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Pattern 1313
The dessert plate is 227mm in diameter. Earthenware with a slightly greenish glaze.
The impressed mark reads: "RIDGWAY, SON & Co.".
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 1324
The square dessert dish is 280mm long and 252mm wide. Earthenware.
The dessert plate is 233mm in diameter. Earthenware.
Photos © Chris Holland 2023
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Pattern 1471
The dessert plate is 228mm in diameter. Earthenware.
This is the same print detail of the 'parable of the sticks' as in the "Union" print above.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Broad Street Works
All entries from the factory pattern description books are reproduced courtesy of The V&A/Wedgwood Collection.
"Arabian"
The soup plate is 273mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
This shows how confusing matters can get when the factories exchanged earthenware blanks. Here you have a blank made at the Church Works being used on a Broad Street Works pattern. Here it is clear what has happened as the printed mark has the initials of the decorating partnership. When, however, the printed mark is anonymous, as is often the case, pieces can easily be misattributed.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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"Shannon" dove
The rectangular dessert dish is 298mm long and 235mm wide. Earthenware.
Photos © Rod Mearing 2022
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Pattern 3/523
The pattern description book entry for Pattern 3/523 reads:
'Void - same as 505 Mistake' The entry for 3/505 reads:
'Dest Clarendon. Printed in S[tone] Brown. Blue & Dk Green on Biscuit. Brown edge. Same Pattn exact as 462 Dk Green bands C[hrome] Green Ground Border.'
The entry for Pattern 3/462 reads:
'Table Albion W[hite] S[tone]. Dessert Clarendon. Printed in S[tone] Brown. Blue on Biscuit. Brown edge. Flower Groups Border & Centre. T[able] Ware 2 Dk Green Bands. Dessert 2 light Green Bands - Enameld the green bands gilt & Burnishd.'
The oval dessert dish 295mm long and 230mm wide. White Stone body.
This is the same as 3/505 but it has Mazarin blue bands instead of dark green. We can only assume this change was given the number of a void pattern but the description book never altered. Perhaps an alteration was made to the pattern book, but that we can't be sure.
The impressed "REAL / IRONSTONE / CHINA" mark belongs to the Francis Morley or Morley & Ashworth periods. So this may be a modified pattern issued in either of those periods rather than a reissue.
Photos © Des Mills 2020
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Pattern 3/529 'Rock & flowers'
The pattern description book reads:
'Table Clarendon B[lue] S[tone]. Printed in Black. Buff & Black on Biscuit. Brown edge. Same as 668 but printed and painted in Black in lieu of blue.'
The entry for 3/668 adds that the highlights are in Opaque Orange, and gives the print name.
The dinner plate is 265mm in diameter. Blue Stone body.
Photos © Chris Holland 2023
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Pattern 3/571 "Chusan"
The pattern description book reads:
'Table Clarendon B[lue] S[tone]. Printed in P[urple] Brown. Blue on Biscuit. Brown Edge. Same as 570 but Gilt & Scoured.'
The entry for 3/570 confirms the print name as "Chusan" and the colours as 'Red & Blue Japan'.
The dinner plate is 267mm in diameter. Blue Stone body. Some wear on the gilding.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 3/773
The pattern description book entry for 3/773 reads:
'Clarendon Dess[er]t E[arthen] Ware. Printed in S[tone] Brown. Blue on Biscuit. White edge. Sage Base Ground D[ark] Blue Gothic Pannels [sic] Gold Sprigs burnish[e]d Chinese Rails Centre Enamell[e]d various Colors [sic] - gold on leaves.'
The sauce tureen is 180mm tall and 190mm across handles. Earthenware.
Photos © Robert Hawker 2023
The oval dessert dish is 292mm long. Earthenware.
The square dessert dish is 279mm long. Earthenware.
The leaf dessert dish is 279mm long. Earthenware.
The dessert plate is 228mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Another example Church Works earthenware blanks being used at the Broad Street Works.
Photos © Geoffrey Jackson Antiques 2020
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Pattern 3/776 'Rock & flowers'
The pattern description book entry for 3/776 reads:
'Table Clarendon B[lue] S[tone]. Printed in Blue. Blue on Biscuit. Brown Edge. The 669 Pattn printed in Blue throughout, Blued Gilt & Burnishd.'
The entry for 669 indicates a two colour print (blue & brown) and describes the print as 'Rock & flowers'.
The dessert plate is approximately 9 inches in diameter. Blue stone body.
The pattern number and tally mark are written in blue under glaze, so must have been done when the plate was blued before glazing. This is most unusual.
Photos © Tommy Cheatham 2019
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Pattern 3/783
The pattern description book entry for 3/783 reads:
'Table Clar[endo]n W[hite] Stone. Printed in P[urple] Brown. Blue & buff on biscuit. Brown edge. Same as 549 exactly only Ena[me]l[le]d & Gilt Slighter.'
Entry for 3/549 reads: 'Table Clarendon W[hite] S[tone]. Printed in P[urple] B[row]n. Blue on biscuit. Same outline as 3/567 En[amelled] all red & blue rich gilt & Scoured.'
Entry for 3/567 reads: 'Table Clarendon B[lue] S[tone]. Printed in P[urple] Brown. Blued on biscuit. Brown edge. Outline Centre flower Chinese Ornamental Bands 4 Panells. D[ar]k Blue & Red Japan. Not Gilt.'
The dessert plate is 228mm in diameter. White Stone body.
Although this is a RMW&Co. pattern, the three line impressed mark means the plate was manufactured under Francis Morley & Co. or later.
Photos © Chris Holland 2023
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Pattern 3/799 'Steam'
The pattern description book entry for 3/799 reads:
'Table Clar[endon] B[lue] Stone. Printed in Blue. nothing on Biscuit. white Edge. Same patt as 3/788 but slighter, not edged.'
Neither entry names the print, which was known as 'Steam' in the factory engraving room.
For other wares with the same print see the 'Steam' print page.
The well and tree dish is 476mm long and 394mm wide. Blue Stone body.
The printed "No 787" relates to the pattern number [3/]787 on which this print was first used as indicated in the pattern description books.
Photos © Brenda Meyer 2022
The soup plate is 265mm in diameter. Blue Stone body.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
A second soup plate has an interesting retailer's mark.
The soup plate is 260mm in diameter. Blue Stone body.
Photos © Margie Myhr 2022
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Pattern 3/844
The pattern description book entry for 3/844 reads:
'Desst Clar EW. Printed in D[ark] Brown. Blue on Biscuit. brown Edge. Same as 773 only Matt Blue ground in place of Sage Base ground.'
The entry for 3/773 reads:
'Clarendon Desst E Ware. Printed in S[tone] Brown. Blue on Biscuit. White Edge. Sage Base Ground D[ark] Blue Gothic Pannels [sic] Gold Sprigs burnishd. Chinese Rails Centre Enamelld various Colors [sic] - gold on leaves.'
The dessert plate or twiffler is 234mm in diameter. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Another example of a Church Works earthenware blank being decorated at the Broad Street Works. In this case the backstamp does not include the partnership initials, so it is necessary to go by the pattern number. The 3/ prefix means that it is a Broad Street Works pattern.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 3/958
The pattern description book entry for 3/958 reads:
'Table Clar[endon] E[arthen]W[are]. Print Cashmere blue. regular blue on biscuit. brown edge. The 266 patt[er]n in flowing blue, pencil[le]d in blue, ena[me]l[le]d in red & orange.'
The pattern description book entry for 266 reads:
'Table Albion B[lue] S[tone]. Printed in P[urple] Brown. Dk Blue &c on biscuit. Brown Edge. Dragon border outline 2 Vases chinese flower centre. Red green & Blue Japanned not gilt.'
Pattern 266 may be viewed on the 'Albion' shape page.
The plate. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "OPAQUE / GRANITE / CHINA / W. R. & Co".
Another example of a Church Works earthenware blank being decorated at the Broad Street Works. In this case the backstamp does not include the partnership initials, so it is necessary to go by the pattern number. The 3/ prefix means that it is a Broad Street Works pattern.
Photos © Kjell Persson 2020
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Pattern 3/960 'Rock & flowers'
The pattern description book entry for 3/960 reads:
'Table: Clar[endon] E[arthen]W[are]. Print: Rock & Panel in flowing blue. Nothing on biscuit. Brown edge. Same print as 669 but printed in flowing blue & en[ame]l'd in Red only.'
The entry for 3/669 adds nothing material.
The soup plate is 254mm in diameter. Earthenware.
Photos © Rhonda Thomas 2021
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Pattern 3/997 'Rock & flowers'
The pattern description book entry for 3/997 reads:
'Same as 960 only White edge.'
The entry for 3/960 reads:
'Table: Clar[endon] E[arthen]W[are]. Print: Rock & Panel in flowing blue. Nothing on biscuit. Brown edge. Same print as 669 but printed in flowing blue & en[ame]l'd in Red only.'
The entry for 3/669 adds nothing material.
The meat dishes are 337mm by 267mm and 248mm by 203mm. Earthenware.
Photos © Margie Myhr 2021
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Pattern 3/1008
The pattern description book entry for 3/1008 reads:
'Table Clarn EW. Clarn Sh Covd pieces. Dessert Clar EW. flowing blue print. Blued L[ight] green, white edge. New Desst Pattn [outline drawing of reserve] pannels & dark ground, light green in border & centre, gilt & burnishd, O Orange line at edge.'
The name 'New Dessert' appears to relate only to the border. I have not been able to trace any other name for the border or the centre print.
The square dessert dish is 274mm long and 252mm wide. Earthenware.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 3/1063
The pattern description book entry for 3/1063 reads:
'Dessert: Clar[endon] E[arthen]w[are]. Print: flowing blue. Light green on biscuit. White edge. Printed & greend as 1008 - enald in Red Rose &c. centre gilt &c with gold band on patt[er]n in border burnishd. O[paque] Orange line at edge.'
For Pattern 3/1008 see above.
The square dessert dish is 279mm long and 254mm wide. Earthenware.
Photos © Margie Myhr 2022
The dessert plate is 229mm in diameter. Earthenware.
Photos © Susanna Pickle 2023
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Pattern 3/1137 "Lady Peel"
The pattern description book entry for 3/1137 reads:
'Toilet: Franklin e[arthen]w[are]. Mulberry print. D[ar]k blue on biscuit. Gold edge. New Cov[ere]d Patt[er]n, twig & flowers printed in Mulberry & leaves d[ar]k blued & flown ena[mel]l[e]d various Colours - leaves gilt & scour[e]d, gold line at edge burnish[e]d.'
Neither a dessert shape nor the print name "Lady Peel" is recorded in the pattern description book. This is not uncommon as later additions to the original entry are not always recorded.
The tall comport is 330mm long, 286mm wide, and 159mm tall. Earthenware.
The impressed mark reads: "F. MORLEY & Co.".
There is no pattern number but that is proved by the same pattern on a jug.
Photos © Jackie Casey 2021
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Pattern 3/1211
The pattern description book entry for 3/1211 reads:
'Dessert: Clar[endo]n E[arthen]w[are]. Toilet Franklin E[arthen]ware. Mulberry print, d[ar]k blue on biscuit, white edge. Dotted leaf border and plant Centre in mulberry, centre dk blue'd & flown, Centre ena[me]l[le]d, border & centre gilt, broad & fine gold line at edge.'
The oval dessert dish is 298mm long. Earthenware.
Photos © Susanna Pickle 2021
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Pattern 3/1238 "Pheasant"
The pattern description book entry for 3/1238 reads:
'Table Prussn Ew, Impl Sh Covd pcs. Toilet Hebe Sh E Ware. Mulberry print. Nothing on biscuit. Brown edge. Pheasant printed in Mulberry & flown, enald various Colours with brown edge.'
No dessert shape is mentioned.
The square dessert dish is 275mm long and 255mm wide. Earthenware.
Photos © Chris Holland 2023
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Pattern 3/1307
The pattern description book entry for 3/1307 reads:
'Dessert Clarn EW. Mulberry print, dk blue on biscuit, white edge. As 1211 but not gilt.'
The entry for 3/1211 states: 'Dotted leaf border and plant Centre in mulberry ... dk blue'd & flown, Centre enald'. Pattern 198 names the centre print as 'Dog Rose'.
The leaf dessert dish is 284mm long and 207mm wide. Earthenware.
3/307 does not exist as a pattern number, and the pattern matches the entry for 3/1307. The '1' has been erased at some point. It is important not to take for granted the accuracy of everything you read on the back of a piece of ceramic.
The crown, without the ribbon inscribed 'Stone China', means this is a standard earthenware body.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 3/1321 'Chinese Birds'
The pattern description book entry for 3/1321 reads:
'Table Prussn Sh, Prussn Cov' pcs. Dessert Clarn EW. Mulberry print, nothing on biscuit, brown edge. As 1145 - but not gilt and E W in place of W[hite] Stone.'
The entry for 3/1145 adds little, but the print is referred to elsewhere as 'Chinese Birds'.
The square dessert dish is 275mm long and 250mm wide. Earthenware.
The oval dessert dish is 293mm long and 234mm wide. Earthenware.
This fake Chinese seal mark only appears to be associated with this print.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern [3/]1361
This is an example of a reissue by Ashworth's of an earlier Francis Morley pattern. The 3/ has been dropped from the number as was the practice during the Ashworth period.
The pattern description book entry for [3/]1361 reads:
'Table Clarn W[hite] Stone Impl. Covd pcs. Print: nothing. On biscuit: dk blue light green & buff. Edge: gold. Pencild Pattn Mazerine [sic] blue, at edge of plate. 4 flowers in border Shaded in green u[nder] glaze. border & centre traced & shaded in Colours rich gilt & burnishd.'
The 7 inch muffin is 172mm in diameter. White Stone.
It appears that some of the pattern number applied by the painter has been lost in the firing and the gilder has corrected it.
The mark is the standard Morley Royal Arms mark that was used until Ashworth began to use their own marks.
The four line impressed mark: "ASHWORTH / REAL / IRONSTONE / CHINA" dates the plate to after 1860.
Photos © Bonnie Jean Seiwell ~ Lady in Decadence 2020
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Pattern 3/1733 'Grecian Vase & Ewer'
The pattern description book entry for 3/1733 reads:
'As 1712 but not gilt finish'd in O[paque] Orange exactly as gilt.'
The entry for 3/1712 reads:
'Dessert Clarn Sh EW. Printed in Mulberry. Dk blue on biscuit. brown edge. The 323 print but printed in Mulberry dk blue'd & flown enal'd & gilt Slight & burnish'd. brown edge.'
The entry for 323 gives the print name as 'Grecian Vase & Ewer'.
The dessert plate or twiffler is 233mm in diameter. Earthenware. Some oxidation of green enamels.
The mark without the words "IRONSTONE CHINA" means this is on a standard earthenware body.
Photos © Angela Grant 2019
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Pattern 5825 'Canton'
The square dessert dish is 280mm long and 254mm wide. Earthenware.
The leaf dessert dish is 254mm long and 216mm wide. Earthenware.
Photos © Chris Lavelle 2023
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