Linthorpe Art Pottery

It is also claimed that they sought to alleviate some of the conditions of unemployment in Middlesbrough, which was a consequence of the Long Depression and its dependence on the iron and steel industries for employment.

[3] Following this initial success Harrison decided to expand production and Dresser recommended the hiring of Henry Tooth, an artist from Buckinghamshire who was then working on the Isle of Wight as a suitable manager for the pottery.

[5][6] It was also the first pottery in the country to use gas-powered kilns to fire the ceramics, which allowed it to experiment with running and special effect glazes for which it became well known.

Between 1880 and 1881 Harrison issued a prospectus proposing to establish a Linthorpe Art Works Company, which would also produce wallpapers, glass and beaten and decorative metals.

[10] Henry Tooth, who was named as manager of the proposed works in the prospectus, left in early 1882 to establish the Bretby Pottery[11][10] with William Ault and was succeeded in his role by Richard Patey.

Firstly, the factory mark, of which there are several variations, the earliest of which was the work Linthorpe impressed, this was latterly combined with the shape of mould number one, with this being registered on 14 November 1882 as a Trademark.