Bodley Partnerships

Edward F Bodley & Co 

platter in the UNION pattern

UNION E. F. B. & Co  the initials are contained within a Stafford Knot the registration diamond shows that the pattern was first registered on the 25th August 1862

photos courtesy: Isabelle Legault 

Bodley & Harrold 

serving tureen in the Alton pattern

B & H the initials B & H for Bodley & Harrold are contained in a Stafford Knot

plate in a blue transfer pattern with hand colouring

B & H the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 12th May 1863 to Bodley & Harrold at the Scotia Works, Burslem

Sandringham pattern 

meat platter in the Sandringham pattern the Sandringham pattern was originally produced by Bodley & Harrold  and was continued by subsequent Bodley family companies

B & Son the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 27th November 1863 to Bodley & Harrold at the Scotia Works, Burslem.  However the initials mark shows that this platter was made by Bodley & Son who operated at the Hill Pottery in 1874-5

photos courtesy: Cynthia Beed

Bodley & Harrold photo source:  Printed British Pottery & Porcelain the original makers of the Sandringham pattern were Bodley & Harrold (c.1863-5) the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 27th November 1863

Bodley & Co

Bodley & Co D W D. W. were likely a Russian importer/retailer based in St. Petersburg. - click for more on DW -

Bodley & Son

The Bodley father (Edward Fisher Bodley) and son (Edwin James Drew Bodley ) between them operated 3 pottery manufactories.

The father operated at all three (Scotia, New Bridge and Hill Top), 
the son only operated at New Bridge & Hill Top.

They worked the china part of the Hill Top Works concurrently 
with the Scotia Works - they moved from the Scotia Works to
the New Bridge Works, but continued the Hill Top Works.

 

 

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Edward F Bodley & Son
Scotia Pottery, Burslem

 The Pottery Gazette,  March 1st 1880

 

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E F Bodley & Son
New Bridge Pottery, Longport, Staffordshire

Pottery Gazette,  January 1885

 

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E F Bodley & Co backstamp

marks

Location and period of operation:

* in 1882 they renamed the china works of the Hill Top Pottery 'Crown Works'

Initials used on ware for identification:

Staffordshire knot mark of Bodley & Co

Staffordshire knot mark of New Bridge Pottery
Edward F Bodley & Son
Bodley & Harrold 

Click links below for more information:

Scotia Works - Burslem
 New Bridge Works - Longport
 Hill Top Works - Burslem    (later renamed Crown Works)

 

The Scotia Pottery "This manufactory was originally the parish workhouse of Burslem, and was calculated to accommodate three hundred inmates. On the establishment of unions, under the Poor-Law Act, when the new union workhouse was erected, this building was occupied as barracks, and so continued for some years. It was then converted into a manufactory by Mr. James Vernon in 1857, and he, in 1862, was succeeded by the present firm of "Edward F. Bodley & Co." At these works the usual descriptions of earthenware, printed, enamelled, and gilt, and " ironstone china," for steamship and hotel use, are made. The bodies and glazes, which have been considerably improved by the manager, Mr. Edward Beardmore, of Rode Heath, are, through his attention and skill, of a very high quality. The mark is the Staffordshire knot, with the words SCOTIA WORKS." Llewellynn Jewitt The Ceramic Art of Great Britain" 1878

 

 

BODLEY, Edward Fisher (1815-81), pottery manufacturer, Burslem. 

Edward Fisher Bodley was born in Lapford, Devonshire, in 1815. By the age of 24 he was living in Steeple Bumpstead, Essex, where he was an Independent minister of religion given to revivalist sermons. 

He moved to Rochford, Essex, where he married and had three children. 

Scotia Pottery:  
After the death of his wife he came to Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent,  and is listed as an accountant and as a commercial traveller in directories from 1864 to 1876. He also engaged in pottery manufacture, opening the Scotia Pottery in 1862. The building had originally been the Burslem workhouse and been converted by James Vernon into a pottery. The firm traded as Bodley and Harrold, changed to Edward F. Bodley and Co., and in 1880 to Edward F. Bodley and Sons. 

New (or Bottom) Bridge Pottery:  
In 1881 the business moved to New Bridge Pottery, Longport. It ceased in 1898. Bodley had supplied pottery to the Confederate navy in the American Civil War. 

Hill Top Pottery:  
He was in partnership with Diggory in the manufacture of china 1870-4, using the china department of Samuel Alcock's magnificent Hill Top Pottery. He was still using this pottery in 1881, when his two factories employed between them 350 people. 

Edward Fisher Bodley had married again, in 1852, Mary Ridgway, by whom he had eight children. He was Liberal in politics, and served as mayor of Hanley 1872-3. 

On his retirement he removed to Dane Bank House, Congleton, where he died, on 17 April, 1881. 
He was buried in Christ Church, Eaton, near Congleton. His son Edwin James Drew Bodley carried on the business until 1892 when he was declared bankrupt. 

Sources: Census 1871, 1881; Dir. 1864, 1867, 1875/6; Jewitt; VCH viii. Ward.

1881 census:

Dwelling: Lower Heath Dane Bank House
Census Place: Congleton, Cheshire, England

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks