Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway






 

Location and period of operation:

Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway

Shelton

1873

1879

 

Manufacturer of earthenware at the Bedford Works, Shelton, Stoke-upon-Trent, England

 

  • The partners were the brothers John and Edward Ackroyd Ridgway together with Joseph Sparks. 

  • From late 1879 the business traded as Ridgways.

 

 

Previously: E. J. Ridgway & Son [1860-73]

Subsequently: Ridgways [1879-1920] 

 

The London Gazette
May 16, 1873

 


notice of the dissolution of the previous partnership  of 
Edward John Ridgway and his son John Ridgway

the business to continue with John Ridgway, Joseph Sparks
and Edward Akroyd Ridgway

 

 

Examples of ware produced by Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway: 

 

 


lidded tureen in the Humming pattern 

this pattern is possibly the basis for the popular INDUS pattern which was introduced in June 1877 - both patterns includes hummingbirds in the border  

 

impressed mark 
- the initials RSR are shown inside a Stafford Knot 
alongside is the impressed month/ year of manufacture - in this case 8/75 for August 1875

the mark to the right is perhaps a workmans mark

 

photos courtesy:  Deborah Coons


 

 


soup bowl in the INDUS pattern

this transferware in the aesthetic style 
RSR

 the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 
15th June 1877 

 

 

 


transferware plate in the VESPER pattern  
impressed mark 
- the initials RSR are shown inside a Stafford Knot 
alongside is the impressed month/year of manufacture 1877 (the number above the 77 is the month of manufacture - but is difficult to read)

 

 


cheese keep in the transfer-ware hawthornden pattern

this pattern (number 4/7583) was introduced by Ridgway, Sparks & Ridgway
but it was registered on the 15th April 1880 by the subsequent firm of Ridgways
Hawthornden
R.S.R. 

 

 


monochrome transferware jug in the YEDDO pattern
this jug has an earthenware lid 
transferware jug in the YEDDO pattern
this jug is black transfer with a blue background
and a pewter lid  
weighted pewter lid


The lid is marked Toft's Patent. 
The patent was registered to C. Toft on February 28 1872. 


the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 
17th April 1878

 

 

 

Marks & initials used on ware for identification:

RSR

the initials RSR appear as both impressed and pinted marks 


     
impressed initials RSR within a Stafford Knot 

sometime the month/year of manufacture is included
- in the mark on the right this is December 1877

 more on the Stafford Knot 

 

 

      

Printed marks with initials RSR and a registration diamond which shows that the pattern 'CHELSEA' was registered on the 31st May 1875. 
The mark in the left also includes the impressed Stafford knot and the month/year of manufacture - December 1877. 

 

 


The Bedford Works 

- click for more information -

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks