Ridgway Potteries (Staffs)

Designed in 1957 by Enid Seeney for the Ridgway Potteries Ltd (Staffordshire) the 'Homemaker' range of tablewear was manufactured especially for sale through the Woolworth's chain of retail outlets. Although originally mass-produced and with a relatively long production run it has acquired cult status and is becoming very highly collectable - the larger and more unusual items like tea and coffee pots and cake stands are fetching big money. This particular plate can be dated to 1962 - the year of manufacture can be seen on the backstamp to the right of the word 'Underglaze'.

Although Ridgway were most well known for Homemaker they produced many other ranges during the 1960s and 1970s with pleasingly funky designs.

This one is called 'Carissima', circa late 1960s.

I have collected Homemaker pieces for years, my mother had a set in the 50s and i managed to retrieve the last plate from the dog a few years back. The pieces that command the big prices are the special order items. The basic sets were stocked by Woolworths and everything else, teapots, sandwich plates etc had to be ordered. A piece that was missing from my collection until recently was a tureen, and i managed to find 2 at the same fair. One of my rarest pieces is a plate with design in red (made for Australia I think) but I am still on the look out for the even rarer green pattern made as a test for the Irish market!

A couple of red Homemaker pieces I picked up last year.

Have you ever heard it confirmed that it was made for Australia?

No, I found out very little about the red colourway, I did see a couple of plates and cakestand being sold from Australia

I managed to pick up 2 dinner plates from a car boot and just over a month later I got the sandwich plate from a junk market. I'd never seen any before and non since.

A 1960s Ridgway part coffee service (for now, I'm sure the sugar bowl and jug are around somewhere) from the White Mist shape range and in 'Kensington Gardens' pattern.
Quite a trendy little set, if somewhat restrained for the time.

Can anyone tell me when this set may have been made?

Between 1912 and 1920.

Thank you

I have a small amount of Ridgways Hand Painted Bedford Ware, which was left to me by my grandmother - the same as the hand painted plate featured on the Potteries (thepotteries.org) page entitled 'Ridgeways (Bedford Works) Ltd' (photo from this page below).



Over the years, quite a lot has got broken (as it is in regular use) , and I would like to replace and add to it - however, I NEVER see any of this for sale?  Is it very rare?  I have looked all over the Internet for years, and have saved searches on sites like eBay - but I just don't ever see this.

I wonder if anybody could tell me more about this range, and why it is that I just can't seem to find any of it.  Thank you!

NaomiM wrote:ebay and Etsy are always my first port of call, and the china replacement websites. If you're not finding it then it may have been a special commission, made in limited numbers

Thanks - I've spent years looking on those sites?  (This is why I'm now seeking more information - it seems so odd to have found nothing at all?  It took me ages just to find that page - I was ecstatic that I'd actually tracked it down at all! )

"Bedford Ware" was a generic name the pottery used in the 1920s/30s,
from the Bedford works.
You are unlikely to find "replacement" tableware that is now approaching
100 years old.
The tableware people I supply generally only deal in post war items, apart
from just a couple of the very popular Doulton and Wedgwood patterns.

The more you use tableware the more damage it's going to get, it's unavoidable. I would buy anything with a reasonable resemblance then you can use it for lesser occasions. If there is that little in circulation then you have few options. Also check the sold items on Ebay in advanced and hunt hard.