The Patent Architectural Pottery Company

Location and period of operation:

NOTE: Although this company was not based in Stoke-on-Trent it is included because the original company was in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent and one of the partners was John Ridgway.  

(See sources)

• The original partnership between John Ridgway and Thomas Sanders Bale of the Architectural Pottery Company
  had been in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent.

• The Patent Architectural Pottery Company was in Poole, Dorset. 

• Manufacturers of patent coloured and glazed bricks and mouldings; tessellated glazed wall tiles and encaustic paving tiles. 

• The partnership was between John Ridgway (china manufacturer at Cauldon Place, Stoke-on-Trent), and
  Thomas Sanders Bale, Thomas Richard Sanders and Frederick George Sanders of Poole in Dorset. 

• A speciallity was tessellated tiles; under Bale's patent process these were formed of thin tesserate
  of various colours. 

• The encaustic tiles were reproductions of mediaeval designs. 

• In 1857 Ridgway retired and the business continued by the other partners.

• Thomas Sanders Bale retired in 1861 and the business continued by the Sanders. 

Previously: Ridgway & Bale  

Ridgway & Bale had been partners at the Architectural Pottery Works, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent. 
This partnership was dissolved in August 1854. 

 

Subsequently: In 1895 the business was sold to the Jesse Carter and it became the Poole Pottery.  

 

---

The relationship between the partners:
[this information is broadly correct - please email me if you have additional information or know different]

John Ridgway (1785-1860) of Cauldon Place, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent was a member of the famous Ridgway family of potters

• In 1810 John Ridgway married a Sophia Bale of Bristol.

• In 1816 a Thomas Richard Sanders (1793-1879) married Sophia's sister Emma Bale.
  In 1819 they had a son - Thomas Sanders Bale (1819-85) - who married an Emma Wagg (daughter of James Wagg - a potter),
  John Ridgway was one of the witnesses at the marriage of Thomas Sanders Bale and Emma Wagg 
  - their children were named.. John Ridgway Bale, Emma Ridgway Bale and Sophia Ridgway Bale. 
    

• Sophia and Emma's brother Thomas Bale married Hannah Ridgway.  

 

London Gazette,  Mayl 1855

notice of a patent granted to Frederick George Sanders

London Gazette,  9 April 1858

notice that John Ridgway  left the partnership, which was continued by
Thomas Sanders Bale, Thomas Richard Sanders and Frederick George Sanders

Initials used on ware for identification:

P A & Co

questions/comments/contributions? email: Steve Birks