Note: Dates are approximate.

Earthenware and china manufacturer at the Lichfield Street Works, (and for a period also the St. James Street Works), Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. 

William Sandland c.1907 

- see biography - 

• William Sandland was born in Hanley in 1848 and commenced working in the pottery industry age nine. (see list of companies William worked).

• From around 1887 William Sandland had been in partnership as Sandland, Bennett & Co. This partnership was dissolved in July 1893 and William commenced, on his own account at the Lichfield Pottery, Hanley. 

• Around January 1907 William retired from active management of the business which had been reconstructed as Sandlands & Colley Ltd. At the time he was the chairman of the Hanley Ratepayer's association. 

• April 1910 - William Sandland was elected as a member for the Hanley Council of the newly formed county borough of Stoke-on-Trent. (Pottery Gazette - April 1 1910).  

• In 1910 the partnership between William Sandford and Alfred Colley was dissolved and William took over the running of the business again. It may be that this Alfred Colley was the one who took over the Gordon Pottery around 1909. 

• By early 1913 the business was in financial difficulties and in February the debt of William Sandland of 3 Frogmore Road, Market Drayton and Lichfield Pottery, Hanley, earthenware manufacturer was purchased by John Williams, Watland Avenue, Wolstanton. (Pottery Gazette - February 1 1913).  

In 1896 the ceramic artist Lucien Boullemier married Mary Emma Sandland, the daughter of William Sandland.

Sandlands, Ltd., earthenware
manufacturers,
Lichfield Street Pottery 

Aynsley Road
Hanley 

* - Good Class Street


Sandland, William,
Sunny Side.
china and earthenware manufacturer

- more on Sunny Side -

1907-10

"Mr. WILLIAM SANDLAND, the founder of the business hitherto carried on under the name of Sandlands, Ltd., china and earthenware manufacturers, Hanley, has just retired from the active management of the company which has been reconstructed as Sandlands & Colley, Ltd. 

Mr. Sandland is not an old man yet, but he commenced work very early, and has had an active life, so he has wisely decided to take matters more easily without going out of business altogether. 

He was born at Hanley fn 1848, and as his parents were poor he began working at nine years of age as a mould runner at the Upper Hanley Pottery, working from six in the morning until eight at night for very little pay. When he was thirteen he was apprenticed as a hollow-ware presser, but was transferred to finish his apprenticeship with Alcock & Co., Cobridge.

At the termination of his apprenticeship he went to work with Minton, Hollins & Co., encaustic tile manufacturers, with whom he remained several years. Afterwards he was engaged by Mr. Johns, Armitage Pottery, subsequently by Twyfords, Ltd., and later by Brown-Westhead & Co., Cauldon-place, as a sanitary presser. 

During all his career Mr. Sandland has been an energetic supporter of trade unionism, and has been a most active official. In 1876 he represented the Hollowpressers’ Society in the arbitration held by Mr. Davis, at Hanley, as to a reduction of 10 per cent, in wages. In 1879 he again represented his society in the arbitration on the question of a 10 per cent, reduction in wages, which was held before Lord Hatherton, when he gave the award about which so much has been said. Mr. Sandland enjoyed the unbounded confidence of his fellow unionists, and it appears to have been justified by the success of his labours in their behalf. 

On leaving Brown-Westhead’s he commenced manufacturing general earthenware at the Victory Pottery, Stoke, in conjunction with Mr. Bennett, as Sandland, Bennett & Co. He took an active part in public affairs during his residence in Stoke, and was for four years a member of the Town Council. 

In 1893 the firm of Sandland & Benneti was dissolved, and Mr. Sandland commenced on his own account at the Litchfield Pottery, Hanley, as a manufacturer of general earthenware, and in a few years he commenced to make china in addition. His object has always been to make use of the most improved methods of production, and to introduce the most up-to-date machinery and appliances. It has been his constant aim that his employees should carry on their work under the most favourable conditions. Having had a personal experience of the disadvantages under which potters necessarily labour, he was determined lo reduce them at his works as far as he possibly could. 

He speaks with pleasure of the happy understanding that has always existed between himself and his workpeople. He has never had a serious dispute with them during the whole of his twenty years’ experience as a manufacturer. At the same time, Mr. Sandland has worked in harmony with his fellow manufacturers in everything which tended to the good of the trade. In the course of his travels he visited the U.S.A. four years ago. 

His time has been too much occupied with business matters since he came to Hanley to take any active part in public affairs. He has, however, been one of the active leaders in the district in favour of Tariff Reform. He is very earnest on the question, and says he has always been a supporter of the movement championed by Mr. Chamberlain, and from sincere conviction. He adds that he w as never more convinced of the necessity for that reform than he is at the present time. Mr. Sandland is too active a man to remain idle, and now his business cares are less he will probably take a more active interest in public life."

"Sandlands, Ltd., Lichfield Pottery, Hanley, are manufacturers of china and earthenware in great variety, and both useful and fancy novelties for the season were in show when I called. I saw Mr. Sandland, whose energy seems in no way abated. His early training as a practical potter is invaluable to him in the conduct of a business covering such a wide field. In addition to to the usual stock lines, they manufacture specialities in toilet ware, dinner ware, tea and breakfast sets, jugs vases and flower post."  

"The "Astoria" is an excellent set, with a tall ewer of graceful shape and a round basin. it is shaded in green, pink, and salmon. Another good shape in the toilet services is the "Queen Anne"....

The dinner services include the "Quebec" shape... The company show a good collection of jugs in many shapes - the "Doris" in landscapes and blue and gold, is a pretty set.

The samples of tea ware in many shapes are specimens of good pottery. The "Dora" and "Queen" shapes are remarkably light..."

The Pottery Gazette - 2nd May 1910

"Market Drayton Nonagenarian's death -  The death took place yesterday of Mrs. Mary Sandland, of 6, Quarry Bank Foot Road, at the age of 95 She was the widow of Mr. William Sandland, who for 35 years was a china and earthenware manufacturer in the Potteries .."

Friday 26 March 1943
Newport & Market Drayton Advertiser