Deakin & Son

James Deakin & Son

James Deakin & Co






 

Location and period of operation:

Deakin & Son

James Deakin & Son

James Deakin & Co

Lane End

1833

1863

 

Earthenware manufacturer at Greendock and at the Waterloo Works, Lane End, Stoke-on-Trent
  • The partners were James Deakin (father) and John Deakin (son). 

  • In January 1836 John Deakin married Mary the daughter of J. Robinson of Chetham & Robinson. (James Deakin was a partner in this business). 

  • 1837 Deakin & Son advertised for sale their china, earthenware and lustre works in Greendock, Lane End

  • James & John became partners in the firm Deakin & Procter.

  • In 1846 John Deakin died, age 46, leaving James as the remaining partner. 

  • James had an interest in the Bentilee and Mossfield Collieries in Stoke-on-Trent.

  • Edwin Deakin (likely James son) joined the business.

  • In 1859 two manufactories, in Stafford Street, which were held by Deakin & Son were advertised for let and an auction of fixtures and utensils held. It may be that the business was moved to other premises.

  • April 1863 James Deakin Snr and Edwin Deakin were declared as bankrupt. 

  • Edwin Deakin's bankruptcy was discharged in December 1863.    

 

Previously: Deakin & Bailey

Concurrently: Deakin & Proctor 

Subsequently (at the Waterloo Works): Lowe & Abberley  

 

 

 


 

From Scriven's Report on Child labour in the Pottery Industry
Children's Employment Commission
appendix to the second report 1842

- click for more -
 
 


testimony of William Cotton, aged 9, figure maker at Deakin and Son 

Messrs. Deakin and Son's Earthenware Factory, Longton

  No. 317 William Cotton, aged 9

  I am a figure maker; have been employed six months; I can read and write; went to day-school four years; I go to Sunday-school at St.John's National school; I come to work at six and go home at six; I go home to breakfast and dinner, and allowed half an hour and an hour; I get coffee, and bread and butter; and potatoes and beef for dinner; I work with Wiliam Tell, he is very good to me; never beats me; I can complete three and a half dozen pieces in the hour, and earn 2s. a week; if I do more, then it is extra work, and I get much more pay; I give my money to mother, I have no father.  

 

 

 


 

The London Gazette
6th October 1846


Bentilee Colliery Company 
notice that Richard Ray and Thomas Wynne resigned from 
the business which was then carried on by John Goodwin, 
John Hawley,  Sampson Bridgwood, Joseph Tideswell, 
William Batkin, James Deakin and James Wardle 


Mossfields Colliery Company 
notice that Richard Ray, Thomas Wynne, William Batkin, 
James Deakin and James Wardle resigned from the business 
which was then carried on by John Goodwin, John Hawley and 
Sampson Bridgwood

 

 


 

The London Gazette 
8 January 1864

notice of the discharge of Edwin Deakin from bankruptcy

 


 

  
Spanish Beauties pattern 

There are at least five scenes in the Spanish Beauties series - all are typical romantic and decorative views with figures in garden or pastoral settings, sometimes musical instruments are being played. All involve a garden in the foreground with columns & urn, a distant view of mountains & exotic buildings behind. Some of the structural element are repeated in differing locations in the various patterns.

The border is quite distinctive with four repeating panels of a castle in a landscape within complex ground of scrolling borders, flower heads & festoons, fan-shapes, and basket weave. 

None of the ware carries a makers name but the identical crown/lion mark appears on an ORTOLAN pattern with the makers name Deakin & Son. 

A couple of examples are known that are clearly from the Spanish Beauties services but they are marked with the pre-1837 British Royal Arms above the words ROYAL MANUFACTORY

 

 


"A romantic scene with a group of figures, one playing a stringed instrument, is set within a complex floral scrolled border incorporating four small scenic vignettes." Henrywood
 


Spanish Beauties

There is no makers name but the same mark appears on an ORTOLAN pattern with the makers name Deakin & Son

 


All these examples are marked 'Spanish Beauties' together with the crown/lion mark. 

 

 

  
Spanish Beauty scene with Royal Manufactory mark 

source acknowledgement: applecrossantiques.com  

This examples is clearly from the Spanish Beauties services but is marked with the pre-1837 British Royal Arms above the words ROYAL MANUFACTORY. 

It is uncertain if the manufacturer is Deakin & Son. 

 


 

 


jug in the Scroll pattern 

marked with an incised mark that reads "DEAKIN PEARL" and the pattern name "SCROLL" in an ivy cartouche - there is a matching bowl which is also incised "DEAKIN PEARL" with the same cartouche, underneath of which are the stamped initials, "D & S" 

 

 


 


  
hand painted moulded jug with an impressed mark 'Deakin Pearl'

 

 


 

 


Bowl with scalloped edge, a printed Chinoiserie style pattern with an urn on a pedestal offset to the right. Hand coloured flowers in typical greens, blue  and burnt orange. 

the pattern name 'NONPAREIL' means having 
no match or equal; unrivalled.


DEAKIN
[]PEARL

impressed 

NONPAREIL
D & S

printed

source acknowledgement: worthpoint.com 

 

 


 


ORTOLAN
Deakin & Son 

printed mark with a crown 
over a demi-lion crest

hand coloured printed pattern featuring the Ortolan bunting 

source acknowledgement: twisted_topiary (Instagram) 

 


 


printed blue and white scene in the Normandy pattern

A typical romantic view, a grand architectural building dominates the background, with multiple domes and towers. 

In the foreground, two figures are depicted in a garden setting, one standing and one seated.

A fountain structure to the left, and urn to the right with lush trees and foliage framing the centre arched trellis. 

An intricate border design composed of stylised floral motifs, leaves, and scrolling patterns in a repeating arrangement.


NORMANDY
D & S

printed

 


DEAKIN
[]PEARL

impressed 

The line below the DEAKIN name has a small space filler before PEARL. 

PEARL was a fairly common trade name for the pottery body. 

photos courtesy: Mike Trew 

 


 

 

 

Marks used on ware for identification:

NOTE: There was a Sheffield silversmith called James Deakin & Sons (no relation to the earthenware manufacturer).  Some Jasperware and earthenware jugs carry lids which are marked 'James Deakin & Sons' - this refers to the lid manufacturer and not the jug manufacturer.

 



D & S

Deakin & Son

Deakin 
Pearl

 



 


Deakin & Son 

'ORTOLAN' is the pattern name 


Spanish Beauties

Mark with a crown and a demi-lion crest - this mark appears on the Spanish Beauties
pattern but without a makers name. 

The same mark on the ORTOLAN pattern with the makers name helps identify the Spanish Beauties pattern as Deakin & Son  

 

 


 

 


Deakin 
Pearl

impressed mark 

 


 

- click for more on the Waterloo Works -


  


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks


 

 



Page History:

Page created 123 Sept 2019

Updated 18 Nov 2024: Page tidied up - no change in content.

Updated: 16 Sep 2025: Examples of Spanish Beauties expanded and mark explanation added. Examples of NONPAREIL, Ortolan and Normandy patterns added.