The Benthall Pottery Company workforce
The Benthall Pottery Company was never large, and the people who made Salopian Art Pottery are largely unknown.
Census records show that in 1871 William Allen employed 48 staff (30 men, 11 women and 7 boys), and in 1881 there was a workforce of 55 (35 men, 16 women and 4 boys). A report in a local newspaper names 25 workers who attended his funeral in 1907. The names of further workers can be gleaned from the account of those who attended the funeral in 1915 of Julia Allen, wife of William Allen.
There are only three known images showing groups of workers at the Benthall Pottery. Two are from c.1905, the third is from 1937. A fourth image, from the early 1950s, would appear to show workers from a successor company, the Benthall Fireclay Co. Ltd.
Employees – 1905
A postcard showing a group of six workers amongst saggars at the Benthall Pottery.
Posted on 17 July 1905 to Miss L. Glover, 2 Netherton Lane, Infirmary Walks, Worcester, the message reads: “This is me when at work. What do you think of us now?”. It is initialled “JC”.
Second from the left is kilnman Thomas Denstone, holding a large Salopian Art Pottery barbotine vase with a graduated background colour over which is a hand-painted floral design.
From left to right: (1) unidentified boy, (2) Thomas Denstone, (3) Mr Barber, (4) William Cross, (5) unidentified woman, (6) unidentified man.
Employees – c.1905
An undated, c.1905, group of 20 workers (15 men, 5 women and a dog) at the Benthall Pottery. Note the muddy ground.
The five women are identified from left to right as (1) Edith Cox; (2) Mrs Bagley ?; (3) (4) and (5) sisters Flora Wilkes (née Powell), 1880–1959; Beatrice Powell, 1883–1944; Lucy Powell, 1888–1970. The 1911 census records Beatrice and Lucy Powell working as throwers’ assistants at an earthenware pottery (presumed to be the Benthall Pottery).
Others thought to be in the group, but not identified, include Victor Austin, two Poyners, two Crosses, Billy Parker and a Dodd.
Employees – 1907
The Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, 30 November 1907, recorded the names of 25 employees of the Benthall Pottery Company who attended the funeral of owner William Allen. Some of these are undoubtedly shown in the group photograph above. The list of names is:
| George Austin | John Denstone | Charles Jones |
| John Beaman | Thomas Denstone | William Jones |
| John Bradley | William Denstone | Henry Lears |
| William Cartwright | John Evans | George Overend |
| Arthur Cleobury | Henry Foster | William Parker |
| George Cross | J. T. Foster | John Scriven, jun. |
| Isaac Cross | A. H. Glover | Richard Whitmore |
| J. H. Cross | James Arthur "Arty" Hartshorne | |
| William Cross | Edward Haynes |
Employees – 1915
The Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, 21 August 1915, recorded the names of employees of the Benthall Pottery Company who attended the funeral of Julia Allen, wife of William Allen. The list of names is:
- W. Bates
- William Cross
- Thomas Denstone
- J. A. Downes
- T. J. Griffiths
- Charles Jones
- Miss Gladys Lester (presumed to be a misprint for Lister: Gladys Lister 1882–1978)
- George Overend
- G. Wilde
- J. Wilde
- Mrs Rosa Elizabeth Terry, wife of William Arthur Terry, vicar of Benthall, is also recorded as attending
Employees – 1937
Unidentified workers photographed at Benthall Pottery, 1937, making coronation mugs.
Image: Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, 20 February 1937, reproduced by the Broseley Local History Society
Employees – early 1950s
On the reverse of the original print of this photograph is written: “Benthall Potteries dinner at the Forest Glen”.
Taken in the early 1950s, it is presumed to show the workforce of the Benthall Fireclay Co. Ltd., known locally as “Raleigh’s Pipes”. The company, which manufactured ceramic drainpipes, operated from the same premises as the former Benthall Pottery Company, which had ceased trading in the late 1930s. The owner, Jack Raleigh, is circled.
The photograph was taken at the Forest Glen Pavilion, a popular tearoom which once stood at the foot of The Wrekin, near Wellington, Shropshire. A much-loved landmark, the Victorian pavilion closed in 1993. It was dismantled and rebuilt at Blists Hill Victorian Town, at nearby Ironbridge.
Image: Shropshire Star, 19 December 2007 (reader’s photograph) and 26 January 2008 (information from nephew of Jack Raleigh).
Wanted – information on Benthall Pottery workers
Can you shed any further light on workers at the Benthall Pottery? If so, please use the contact form to get in touch – thank you.