John Beech's Homepages - James Beech

James Beech the man

James Beech was a manufacturer of a range of pottery designs for almost forty years.

In 1851 he formed the partnership Beech Hancock & Co. and production was started at Swan Bank Works in Burslem. His most prolific period was from 1857 to 1876 in the partnership of Beech & Hancock, operating intially at Church Banks Works in Tunstall (previously used by Robert Beswick) and from 1861 at the Swan Bank Works, also in Tunstall (previously used by E Wedgwood & Co.). During this period sponged ware was produced for the home market.

The partnership broke up in 1876, and James Beech continued to manufacture at the same Works until 1889, shortly after his death.

The works were then taken over by Boulton, Machin & Tennant, who continued to manufacture there until 1899.

From 1861 the mark of the company incorporated a black swan.

James Beech was born in 1822 in Tunstall, the son of Joseph Beech, a wharehouseman, and Mary Cumberlidge. He appears to have been an only child and his mother probably died shortly after his birth.

On 19 December 1843 he married Sarah Rhead (born in 1824, the daughter of James Rhead and Anne ?) in Tunstall. Sarah was possibly from the same Rhead family as the designer Charlotte Rhead, but no evidence to support this has yet been established.

James and Sarah had nine children:

• Joseph Henry
• b.1845
• Alfred
• b.1847
• William
• b.1852
• Mary Jane
• b. Dec 1852
• James
• b.1855
• John
• b. 22 Nov 1855
• Sarah
• b.1858
• Frederick
• b.1859
• Annie Eliza
• b.1863

His sons Joseph Henry and Alfred appear to have joined the family business, with Alfred employed as a manager.

In 1851 the family lived at 32 King Street, Tunstall, next door to a Benjamin Hancock, potter, and possibly James Beech's partner. By 1861 the family had moved to Snow Hill, Burslem. From 1868 to 1873 they lived at Hawthorn House, Porthill. In 1881 they had moved to Well Street, Wolstanton.

He died in early 1887 in Tunstall.

Other descendants of James Beech are invited to contact the webmaster, John Beech, by emailing to

John AT Beech DOT net.

John is descended from James's son John.