A Chronological Index of English Porcelain Manufacturers c.1742 to 1800
This article lists all known makers of porcelain in England in the 18th Century, along with a brief history of each.
(Further more detailed pages will be added about each factory over time).
The history of Porcelain manufacture in England in the 18th Century is still a picture that is not entirely clear. There are references to people who's roles in the history of English porcelain production is not totally clear, and there is also a distinct lack of information on people who were known to have played a significant role.
Many factory records are lost, most probably forever, and the main source of information used in piecing together the history of these early factories comes from contemporary newspaper advertisments, and other disconnected records that are spread far & wide.
The following list represents the current known manufacturers and their suspected dates of manufacture. We will add more detailed information over time, so please be sure to visit again.
------------------
John Dwight 1671 - 1703:
In 1671 John Dwight set up a factory in Fulham, at which he produced stonewares in imitation of German "Cologne Wares." He also filed a patent for his discoveries in which he claimed to have discovered how to make porcelain. Modern excavations have recovered porcellaneous material which would seem to confirm the claims made in the original patent.
Although it seems clear that John Dwight experimented with porcelain production, and even had some success at producing some type of porcellaneous material, it seems unlikely that he ever produced porcelain commercially.
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
"A" Class Porcelain c.1740's:
The "A" Class group of porcelains are a small, extremely rare group which are characterised with a letter "A" mark to the underside.
The "A" Class porcelain does not seem to correspond to any known factory, but there has been the suggestion that they could be the very first wares made by Thomas Frye & Edward Heylin of Bow with regards to their original patent using "unaker, the produce of the Chirokee nation in America."
This theory has been tested with the original patent being followed to produce a number of small porcelain beakers (click here). Opinion remains divided over the source & date of "A" Class porcelain.
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Chelsea 1744 – 1769:
The Chelsea factory was established in circa 1744 by Nicholas Sprimont, a Huguenot silversmith.
Chelsea porcelain was aimed at the upper end of the market, and consequently underglaze blue chinoiserie pieces are very rare, the main output from the factory was European inspired decoration with the porcelain being based on silver shapes.
Chelsea porcelain manufacture is divided over 4 main periods, the incised triangle period, raised anchor period, red anchor period, & gold anchor period.
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Bow 1745 - 1776
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Limehouse 1746 - 1748
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Pomona Factory at Newcastle under Lyme c.1746 – c.1747
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Girl in the Swing Factory or the St. James Factory of Charles Gouyn 1749-1759
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Longton Hall 1749 - 1760
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Lunds Bristol 1749 - 1752
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Worcester 1751-
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Derby 1750-
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Derby (Cockpit Hill) c.1751-1779
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Vauxhall 1753 - 1764 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Samuel Gilbody
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Richard Chaffers
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
William Reid
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
William Ball
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
James Pennington
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Phillip Christian
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
John & Jane Pennington
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
John & Jane Pennington
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Seth Pennington & John
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Kentish Town 1755-1756 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Lowestoft 1757-1799 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Isleworth 1760-1805
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
West Pans : 1764-1777 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Bovey Tracey 1766-7
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Plymouth 1768-1770
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Bristol 1770-1781
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Chelsea-Derby 1770-1784
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Caughley 1775-1799 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Wirksworth China Factory 1772-1777 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
Baddeley Littler 1777-1784 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
New Hall 1782-1835 :
For a more detailed history, click here
------------------
| 
