Burmantofts

Burmantofts Pottery was a pottery manufacturing company that was established by William Wilcock and John Lassey. The plot that they brought for mining coal, which they mined for thirteen years, started producing clay. Therefore they decided to change the business to manufacturing of ceramic pipes and bricks in 1858. James, the new owner of the company, gave a different definition to the company by producing vases, jardiniËres and other such pottery items.

During 1888, Burmantofts had its business peaking ñ it merged with five companies in Yorkshire and relabelled itself as the Leeds Fireclay Company the following year. All the articles then sold had the label ’Lefico’, which was derived from the first two letters of the parent company. With the advent of the twentieth century, Burmantofts focused itself to producing more of architectural pieces. The company discontinued its production in 1957.

Burmantofts potteries can be distinguished by their ’quite plain’ designs. Their bulbous vases typically had a long slender neck. Moreover, in later years, the company manufactured pottery with ambitious glaze, sgraffito decoration and designs that were more ornate in appearance. The use of insects and serpents were also evident in later years. Articles from Burmantofts include cups and saucers, pots, swans, vases, etc.