Northfield Pottery
In 1855, George Hawley purchased Northfield Pottery, Rotherham, from Joseph Lee, who built the works about 1850, and manufactured earthenware for the American markets, the trade mark used being the royal coat of arms.
Prior to building Northfield Pottery, Lee carried on a small pottery near to Bridgegate, Rotherham, which was very primitive but evidently successful, because it enabled him to take up potting on a much larger scale, although within so short a time of his new venture he had to give it up. George Hawley now worked two potteries, namely, Low Pottery, Rawmarsh, and Northfield Pottery, Rotherham, with the assistance of his two sons, William and George, until his death in October 1863. He was a very industrious potter, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him, both in business and in private life. The two sons, William and George succeeded to the business, and continued the manufacture under the style of William and George Hawley, doing a fair amount of export trade as well as supplying the home markets, their trade mark being W. & G. Hawley.
On the death of William, at Rawmarsh in 1868, his three sons, Matthew, the eldest, Walter and Arthur George, took over the Northfield Pottery and carried on as Hawley Brothers, under the successful management of Matthew, who had always been keenly interested in the business, and who had received a thorough grounding from his father.
George, the surviving brother of William continued at the Low Pottery, Rawmarsh, trading as George Hawley. Matthew Hawley died in August, 1888, leaving his two sons, Sidney and John William, in partnership in trust with his brother Arthur George
In January 1897, the business, for family reasons, was converted into a private limited liability company, under the name and style of Hawley Brothers Ltd. manufacturing general domestic earthenware. In the year 1900 leadless glaze was introduced and used in place of lead glazes, large quantities of goods of a very fne quality being made for Government use in various departments, besides for railway companies, public institutions, etc.
In 1903 the Company changed, and carried on as the Northfield Hawley Pottery Co. Ld., manufacturing earthenware of a common kind.
Marked specimens of the Northfield Pottery were rare. A a teapot ornamented with curtains and tassels in blue and orange, with a deep border, at the base, of green leaves on a yellow ground, with a broad line in dark blue, running at the top and bottom of the border, was impressed HAWLEY on the bottom, and Toby jugs were similarly marked.
The mark of the Northfield Hawley Pottery Co. Ltd. was a lion rampant, with his riglit paw placed on a globe. This was found on the back of a saucer, decorated on the front with a print of a rural scene in red.
The trade mark of Hawley Brothers consisted of the initials H.B. intertwined in the centre of a shield, and 1790 below them, this being the date when William Hawley founded the Top Pottery, Rawmarsh.
Source:Yorkshire potteries, pots and potters (1916)
William HAWLEY from Sheffield m. 1780 Wath Elizabeth SMITH. Children:
- John b.1781 Masbro
- William b.1783 Masbro
- Frances b.1787 Masbro
- Hannah b.1787 Masbro
- Abraham b.1789 Masbro m. 1814 Masbro Mary Wright
- Thomas b.1791 Masbro
- Sarah b.1793 Masbro
- George b. 1795 Masbro m. 1817 Masbro Elizabeth STEEL(b.1793 Greasbro d/o Wm/Hannah)
- Henry b. 1798 Masbro
- Ellen b.1801 Masbro
- Matthew b.1803 Masbro m. 1828 Sheffield Mary Ann GILLOTT(b.1802 Sheffield d/o Jos/Ann)
- William b.1806 Rawmarsh
- Helen b.1807 Rawmarsh
Children of Abraham HAWLEY, and Mary (Nee WRIGHT):
- b.1813 Abraham Rawmarsh
- b.1815 Ann Rawmarsh
- b.1817 Sarah Rawmarsh
- b.1818 Hannah Masbro Ind
- b.1821 Alfred Masbro Ind
- b.1824 Marianne Rawmarsh
- b.1826 Matlda Rawmarsh
- b.1829 William Rawmarsh
Children of George HAWLEY and Elizabeth (Nee STEEL)
- b.1818 William Masbro Ind
- b.1820 Mary Rawmarsh
- b.1820 Henry Rawmarsh
- b.1822 Charles Rawmarsh
- b.1827 Ann Masbro Ind m. Thomas Brazier, a Blacksmith b.1827 Much Wenlock Shropshire. In 1881 living 1 Pottery St, Rawmarsh with 3 children
- b.1829 Elizabeth Rawmarsh
- b.1829 Hannah Rawmarsh
- b.1830 Eliza Rawmarsh
- b.1833 George Rawmarsh m. Elizabeth
Children of Matthew HAWLEY and Mary Ann (Nee GILLOTT):
- b.1829 Matthew Henry Masbro
- b.1831 Eliza Masbro
1881 Census Rawmarsh
Living at Maida Villa, Rawmarsh:
George HAWLEY age 48 b. Rawmarsh, Earthenware Manufacturer
Elizabeth wife,age 41 Barlow nr Chesterfield
Living at Prospect House, Rawmarsh:
Matthew HAWLEY age 41 b. Rawmarsh Earthenware Manufacturer (Son of George and Mary)
Jane HAWLEY wife,age 40 Parkgate
Sidney HAWLEY son, age 15 Parkgate scholar
John Wm.HAWLEY son, age 14 Parkgate, scholar
Earnest HAWLEY son, age 13 Parkgate, scholar
Louisa HAWLEY son, age 11 Parkgate, scholar,
Alma Jane HAWLEY dau, age 9 Parkgate, scholar, m.Thomas Sibary Roddis of Wickersley Living Sleaford Lincolnshire 1901
Chas. Fred. HAWLEY son, age 8 Parkgate, scholar,
Geo. Thos.HAWLEY son, age 7 Parkgate, scholar,
Matt. Hy. HAWLEY son, age 5 Parkgate, scholar,
Mary FRANCE serv U 20 Upper Haugh Gen. serv.
Emma FRANCE serv 14 Upper Haugh Gen. serv.
Living at 2 Ash Mount, Rawmarsh:
Walter HAWLEY head, age 37 Rawmarsh, Potter
Ann HAWLEY wife,age 39 Rawmarsh
William HAWLEY son, age 13, scholar Luther HAWLEY son, age 12, scholar
Samuel C. HAWLEY son, age 10, scholar,
Elizabeth HAWLEY daughter age 8, scholar
Frederick HAWLEY son, age 6, scholar,
A. Geo. HAWLEY son, age 2, scholar
Living at 15 Rawmarsh Hill, Rawmarsh:
Arthur George HAWLEY age, 32,b.Rawmarsh, Earthenware Manufacturer
Sarah Ann wife, age 31 b. Sheffield
Polly E. dau. age 8 b. Rawmarsh, scholar
Lois A. dau. age 6 b. Rawmarsh, scholar
Florence dau. age 3 b. Rawmarsh
Percy son age 1 b. Rawmarsh
Susan CORBRIDGE, m in law, widow,age 55 b. Lincoln, widow of engine fitter
Elizabeth HALL servant, unmarried, age 18 b. Upper Haugh, domestic servant
Harriet DOBSON servant, unmarried, age 15 b. Rawmarsh, nurse maid
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