Dimmocks Pottery Works, Hanley

Dimmocks Pottery Works, Hanley
photo: the Warrillow Collection

Situated opposite the Town Hall in Hanley - this immense pottery factory was bounded by Stafford Street, to the front is Albion Street and to the left side (in the photo above) was Cheapside.

The works was demolished in 1904. Later a skating rink and after that a cinema was built on the site. Later the Top Rank night club was built on the corner nearest the camera, eventually it became a bingo hall. On the other corner a C&A store was eventually built.

this 1898 map shows the Dimmock's Albion Pottery Works, opposite the Town Hall

Thomas Dimmock (Jnr) & Co operated the Albion Street Works (1828-59) and also the Tontine Street Works (1830-50) then the company was renamed John Dimmock & Co from 1862 to 1904 when the works were demolished.
From c.1878 the company was under the ownership of a W. D. Cliff and his name occurs in most of the marks after this date

The demolition of the great chimney at Dimmock's was almost an event for a local holiday and was watched by huge crowds of people. Afterwards postcards of the event were sold.

From an 1840 investigation by a government official into child labour in the pottery industry:

No. 111. Mr. John Keeling aged 36

"I am the overlooker of Messrs. Dimmock's factory ; have been thus engaged 11 years. We have 87 men above 21, and 47 women; 54 men under 21, and 23 women; and 12 boys under 13, and 13 girls. There are no apprentice girls as painters; there are six as transferers; there are no painter boys.

We pay the people every Saturday night in cash. We are not in full work; upon the average we work five days a-week. They are expected to come in winter at seven in the morning and leave at six; in the summer, from six to six; in a few departments the children come half an hour earlier in the mornings to light fires for the men.
We work them occasionally over-time until nine at night; never beyond; for this the people claim half a day; they generally give over work at one o'clock on Saturdays, and seldom come on Mondays ; they like to enjoy themselves ; if they worked on these occasions there would be no necessity of their ever working over-time; this would not only be better for children but for parents : the first might go to evening school, and the last might absent themselves from beer-shops.

I do not think the factors could effect this improvement, but the Parliament could. There are many schools, and there would be more erected willingly by the inhabitants, if children would fill them ; but parties interested in their welfare are obliged to go from door to door to beseech their attendance. I would also say, that independent of the advantages that would result. to the people from doing away with over-time, the master would also benefit, by saving fires and habits, and his work would be better done."

1879, employee reference from John Dimmock & Co.....

July 14th 1879

"The bearer Richard Watkin has worked for
us as dishmaker he is very steady & good
work placer, and thoroughly honest"

ppro J Dimmock & Co

John Thomas Watkin b.1820 was a potter as were most of his children.
He lived at 28 Elliott Street, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, and his son Richard worked for Bates Walker & Co of Burslem and John Dimmock & Co of Hanley.

Richard Watkin emigrated to America and took with him recommendations dated 1877 and 1879, from these Stoke-on-Trent pottery companies.

Top of Lichfield Street and Albion Square - looking into Stafford Street

C&A occupied part of the site of Dimmock's Albion works