Stoneware bottles were used during the 19th and early 20th century to house both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The particular style of bottles shown here were mainly used to house ginger beer. They fell out of favour by the 1920's, probably as a result of competition from mass produced glass bottles, but also due to concerns over the cleanliness of stoneware bottles given that you couldn't see inside them. This fact had previously been seen as an advantage, providing a means of hiding any unsightly sediment in drinks.

Prior to circa 1890 the majority of stoneware ginger beer bottles were impressed, that is the writing on them was pressed into the surface. Bottles dating after this time are more likely to be printed.

All bottles shown here are arranged firstly by town, and then in alphabetical order of company name.

 

Burslem








Company: Boots, Burslem

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'BOOTS REAL HERB BEER, 8 CHURCH STREET BURSLEM'

Maker: Bourne, Denby







Company: Boots, Burslem

Description:  Two tone standard GB, internal screw top, marked 'BOOTS CELEBRATED STONE Ginger Ale CHURCH STREET, BURSLEM'

Maker: Bourne Denby







Company: Copestick Bros & Co, Burslem

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'COPESTICK BROS & CO, BURSLEM, BREWED STONE GINGER BEER'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: Lloyd & Hughes, Burslem

Description: All white sandard GB, marked 'LLOYD & HUGHES GINGER BEER BRICKHOUSE ST BURSLEM' with LHB insignia

Maker: Not Marked







Company: James Norris, Burslem

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'NORRIS, BURSLEM'

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: John Podmore, Burslem

Description: All white standard GB, copper plate print, marked 'JOHN PODMORE'S BURSLEM BREWERY FURLONG PARADE STONE GINGER BEER' with pictoral Trade Mark of a horse

Maker: Port Dundas Pottery Co, Glasgow







Company: John Podmore, Burslem

Description: All white standard GB, rubber stamp print, marked 'JOHN PODMORE'S BURSLEM BREWERY FURLONG PARADE STONE GINGER BEER' with pictoral Trade Mark of a horse

Maker: Not Marked







Company: John Sherratt, Burslem

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'JOHN SHERRATTS STONE GINGER BEER Brewed from the Finest GINGER ROOT BOWDEN STREET BURSLEM'

Maker: Pearson, Whittington Moor







Company: Walter Sherratt, Burslem

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'SHERRATT'S A1 HERB BEER BURSLEM' with pictoral Trade Mark of a wheatsheaf and WS insignia

Maker: Port Dundas Pottery Co, Glasgow







Company: R Steel, Burslem

Description: Salt Glazed GB, impressed 'R STEEL, BURSLEM'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Wilkinson & Ingham, Burslem

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'WILKINSON & INGHAM, YE OLDE FASHIONED STONE GINGER BEER, BURSLEM'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: Wilkinson & Ingham, Burslem

Description: All white standard GB, marked 'WILKINSON & INGHAM, YE OLDE STONE GINGER BEER, BURSLEM'

Maker: George Skey, Wilnecote, Tamworth

 

Fenton (incl. Heron Cross)








Company: Ridgway Bros, Fenton

Description: Two tone standard GB, impressed 'RIDGWAY BROS, FENTON'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: Ridgway Bros, Fenton

Description: Two tone champagne GB, internal screwtop, marked 'RIDGWAY BROS. DANDELION & BURDOCK STOUT FENTON'

Maker: Price, Bristol

 

Hanley (incl. Shelton)








Company: William Baker, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, copper plate print, marked 'W. BAKER STONE GINGER BEER HANLEY' with signature script to centre.

Maker: Not Marked







Company: William Baker, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, rubber stamp print, marked 'W.BAKER STONE GINGER BEER HANLEY' with signature script to centre.

Maker: Not marked







Company: Boots, Hanley & Burslem

Description: Two tone standard GB, Internal screwtop marked 'BOOTS CELEBRATED STONE GINGER ALE HANLEY & BURSLEM'.

Maker: Bourne Denby







Company: Alfred Chew & Co Ld, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'ALFRED CHEW & Co LD HANLEY'

Maker:Pearson & Co, Whittington Moor







Company: Copeland & Wilson, Hanley

Description: Honey glazed standard GB, marked 'COPELAND & WILSON, BREWED GINGER BEER, HANLEY'

Maker:Price, Bristol







Company: Copeland & Wilson, Hanley

Description: Honey glazed standard GB, marked 'COPELAND & WILSON, PORTLAND WORKS, HANLEY'

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: Thomas Dickson, Hanley

Description: All white standard GB, marked 'DICKSON'S HANLEY, BREWED GINGER BEER' with shield Trade Mark

Maker:Price, Bristol







Company: John Fox, Hanley

Description: All white champagne GB, marked 'JOHN FOX GINGER BEER HANLEY' with pictorial fox trademark

Maker: J Montgomery, Liverpool

 







Company: John Fox, Hanley

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'JOHN FOX GINGER BEER HANLEY' with pictorial fox trademark

Maker: Not Marked







Company: John Fox, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'FOX & CO BREWED STONE GINGER BEER HANLEY'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: Gilbert & Co, Hanley

Description: All white standard GB, impressed 'GILBERT & CO, HANLEY' with Anchor Trade Mark

Maker: Not marked







Company: Kelsall, Hanley

Description: Salt Glazed GB, impressed 'KELSALL, HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: W King, Hanley

Description: All white standard GB, impressed 'W KING, HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: North Staffordshire Mineral Waters Co LD, Hanley

Description: Honey glazed standard GB, marked 'N. S. MINERAL WATERS Co LD HANLEY, YE OLDE STONE GINGER, FOUNTAIN WORKS' with pictoral 'Masterpiece' Trade Mark of a double 9-spot domino

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: John Pennington, Hanley

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'PENNINGTON'S GENUINE BREWED GINGER BEER, CHURCH ST. HANLEY'

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: The Potteries Amalgamated Mineral Water Co Ld, Hanley & Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'THE POTTERIES AMALGAMATED MINERAL WATER CO LD HANLEY AND LONGTON' with diamond Trade Mark 'HC ST 1875'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: The Premier Mineral Water Company Ld, Hanley

Description: Honey glazed standard GB, marked 'THE PREMIER MINERAL WATER Co LD HANLEY, YE OLDE STONE GINGER, FOUNTAIN WORKS' with pictoral 'Masterpiece' Trade Mark of a double 9-spot domino

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: The Premier Mineral Water Company Ld, Hanley & Longton

Description: Honey glazed standard GB, marked 'THE PREMIER MINERAL WATER COMPANY, HANLEY & LONGTON LD' with diamond Trade Mark '1875 HC ST'

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: Proffitt's Crown Brewery, Hanley

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'PROFFITT'S, STONE GINGER BEER, CROWN BREWERY, BIRCHES HEAD, HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: John Shelley, Hanley

Description: Two tone standard GB, impressed 'J SHELLEY, HANLEY'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: John Shelley, Hanley

Description: All white standard GB, impressed 'J SHELLEY, HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: John Williams, Hanley

Description: Salt glazed GB, impressed 'WILLIAMS, 1872 TRADE MARK, HANLEY' with 'B' on a cube pictoral

Maker: Not Marked







Company: Woodhouse & Co, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'WOODHOUSE & CO, GINGER BREWED BEER, HANLEY'

Maker: Pearson & Co, Whittington Moor







Company: Woodhouse & Sons, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'WOODHOUSE & SONS, BREWED GINGER BEER, HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Wooldridge, Hanley

Description: Two tone standard GB, impressed 'WOOLDRIDGE, JUG HOTEL, HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Youngs Brewery, Hanley

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'YOUNG'S BREWERY, HOPE ST HANLEY, STONE GINGER BEER'

Maker: Not Marked







Company: Youngs Brewery, Hanley

Description: Two tone champagne GB, marked 'YOUNG'S BREWERY HOPE ST. HANLEY, STONE GINGER BEER'

Maker: Pearson & Co, Whittington Moor

 

Longton (incl. Lane End and Normacot)








Company: Birks, Wilding & Sims, Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'BIRKS WILDING & SIMS, STONE GINGER BEER, LONGTON'

Maker: Bourne, Denby







Company: S Bowers, Longton

Description: Large stoneware bottle, marked 'S. BOWERS 135 HIGH STREET LONGTON'.

Maker: Price Bristol







Company: S Bradbury, Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, impressed 'S BRADBURY, UNION HOTEL, LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: S Bradbury, Longton

Description: Salt glazed GB, impressed 'OLD ESTABLISHMENT, S BRADBURY, LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: S Bradbury, Longton

Description: Salt glazed GB, impressed 'OLD ESTABLISHMENT, S BRADBURY, LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Brookfields, Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, impressed 'TRY BROOKFIELD'S, CELEBRATED HERB GINGER BEER, LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Brookfields, Longton

Description: All white standard GB, marked 'Try BROOKFIELD'S CELEBRATED HERB & GINGER BEER LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Arthur H Greatbatch, Longton

Description: Honey glazed standard GB, marked 'A. H. GREATBATCH OLD FASHIONED GINGER BEER NORMACOT ROAD LONGTON' with diamond Trade Mark '1875 HC ST'

Maker: Bourne, Denby







Company: Arthur H Greatbatch, Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, Small Logo, marked 'A. H. GREATBATCH OLD FASHIONED GINGER BEER NORMACOT ROAD LONGTON' with diamond Trade Mark '1875 HC ST'

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: Arthur H Greatbatch, Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, Large Logo, marked 'A. H. GREATBATCH OLD FASHIONED GINGER BEER NORMACOT ROAD LONGTON' with diamond Trade Mark '1875 HC ST'

Maker: Price, Bristol







Company: J H Howshall, Longton & Hanley

Description: All white standard GB, marked 'J H HOWSHALL, Wholesale Herbalist, HOWSHALL'S PURIFYING BEER, LONGTON & HANLEY'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Thomas King, Longton

Description: All white standard GB, impressed 'THOMAS KING, LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: Joseph Moss, Longton

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'JOSEPH MOSS, STONE BEER, LONGTON'

Maker: Not marked







Company: T Platt, Longton

Description: All white standard GB, marked 'T PLATT, STONE GINGER BEER, LONGTON'

Maker: Port Dundas Pottery Co, Glasgow







Company: E Tams & Co, Longton

Description: All white standard GB, marked 'NORMACOT SPRING, E Tams & Co REGD TRADE MARK, LONGTON'

Maker: Not Marked

 

Stoke








Company: J Gordon, Stoke

Description: Salt glazed GB, impressed 'J GORDON, STOKE'

Maker: Not marked







Company: John Taylor, Stoke

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'JOHN TAYLOR, STOKE' with an intertwined JT trade mark to the centre

Maker: Pearson & Co, Whittington Moor

 

Tunstall (incl. Goldenhill)








Company: The Goldenhill Mineral Water Co, Goldenhill

Description: Two tone standard GB, marked 'THE GOLDENHILL & DISTRICT MINERAL WATER COMPANY'

Maker: Not marked

Unless otherwise stated, all images and content of this website are © Dave Arrowsmith, and may not be reproduced without prior permission.