c. 1862–1868
B L
The BL monogram dates to about 1862–1868, before the move to Hill Pottery.
printed, impressed · Burslem, England
monogram of the initials printed or impressed possible before the move to the Hill Pottery
Pottery & porcelain
Burleigh Ware backstamps
The name “Middleport Pottery B & L Burleigh Ware” appears among Burleigh Ware backstamps from Burslem, England. Its mark period is 1903.
- Active years
- From 1851
- Country
- United Kingdom
- City / region
- Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
- Products
- earthenware, porcelain
- Marks
- 30
Burgess–Leigh partnership from 1862; predecessor Hulme and Booth from 1851. Burleigh business continued after the 2026 rescue sale.
What to look for
- Hill Pottery wording identifies the earlier works; Middleport wording belongs to production after the 1889 move.
- Compare the globe, heraldic shield and beehive layouts. The leaf-framed beehive differs from the smaller bare hive used later.
- Ltd follows the 1919 incorporation. B D & L identifies the Dorling period, whereas B & L is the Burgess and Leigh form.
- Estd 1851 records the predecessor business. Norman, Haddon and similar words are pattern names; registration numbers date a design registration rather than every object bearing it.
Dated marks & timeline
30 marks
c. 1862–1868
B L
Possibly used in 1862–1868, before the move to Hill Pottery.
impressed, printed · Burslem, England
monogram of the initials printed or impressed possible before the move to the Hill Pottery
1868–1889
Hill Pottery B & L
England, United Kingdom
Hill Pottery marks belong to the period when Burgess & Leigh occupied its earthenware department.
c. 1889–1912
BURGESS & LEIGH / MIDDLEPORT / ROYAL SEMI PORCELAIN / ENGLAND
Lion shield and Royal Semi Porcelain wording distinguish it from the globe.
printed
From 1903
Middleport Pottery B & L Burleigh Ware
The Burleigh brand name was introduced in 1903.
Burslem, England
the ‘Burleigh’ brand name was introduced in
c. From 1912
BURLEIGH WARE / ENGLAND / BURGESS & LEIGH / MIDDLEPORT POTTERY / BURSLEM / SEMI PORCELAIN; HADDON
Middleport band in the globe; Haddon is separately printed pattern wording.
printed
1917
Burgess & Leigh marks - from a 1917 trade diary
These marks are reproduced from a 1917 trade diary; that is an observation date.
Burslem, England
S A & Co refers to predecessor Samuel Alcock & Co., which rebuilt Hill Pottery.
c. 1919
B & L Ltd England
Burslem, England
Old Derby is the pattern name, chosen to suggest a connection with the Derby Porcelain Works.
c. 1930–1939
BURLEIGH WARE / ESTD 1851 / B & L LTD / MADE IN ENGLAND
Leaf frame and initials in a panel across the hive.
printed
c. From 1930
Burleigh Asiatic Pheasants B & L England
Burslem, England
Pattern-specific style, also used for Willow.
c. From 1930
Burleigh Ware B & L Burslem England
This script B & L form was introduced in the 1930s and remained in continuous use thereafter.
England, United Kingdom
c. From 1940
Burleigh Ware Burgess & Leigh Ltd Estd 1851 Burslem England
Dated approximately from 1940; B probably indicates the Wartime Concentration Scheme.
England, United Kingdom
The printed establishment year 1851 belongs to predecessor Hulme and Booth; Burgess & Leigh began in 1862.
c. From 1940
Burleigh Ware / BURGESS & LEIGH LTD / ESTD 1851 / BURSLEM ENGLAND
Company name arcs over a bare hive, without the leafy surround.
printed
c. From 1960
printed
These simple printed marks date from about the 1960s onward.
printed · Burslem, England
simple printed marks - probably 1960s+
c. From 1960
BURLEIGH WARE WILLOW ENGLAND 1A
These simple printed marks date from about the 1960s.
printed · England, United Kingdom
c. From 1960
Burleigh IRONSTONE STAFFORDSHIRE ENGLAND
Probably used from the 1960s onwards.
printed · Burslem, England
simple printed marks - probably 1960s+
Marks 25–30
c. 2000–2010
BURLEIGH / B D & L / WARE / BURSLEM-ENGLAND
D in the central initials marks the Dorling identity.
printed
Undated
B&L Burslem
England, United Kingdom
Clarence is the pattern name. Registration numbers belonging to E. J. D. Bodley suggest production under arrangement with Bodley.
Undated
Burleigh Ware Burgess & Leigh Burslem England
Premier is the pattern name; registration number 657114 dates the pattern registration to 1916.
England, United Kingdom
Undated
Burleigh Ware Burgess & Leigh Middleport Pottery Burslem Semi-Porcelain England
Registration number 588776 dates the Rosette pattern's registration to 1911.
Middleport, Burslem, England
'Rosette'' is the pattern name - the number 588776 shows that this pattern was registered in 1911
Undated
HILL POTTERY
The impressed 1885 is the illustrated object’s year of manufacture; Hill Pottery marks generally belong to 1868–1889.
impressed · England, United Kingdom
Undated
Middleport Pottery B & L PAXTON
Paxton is the pattern name; registration number 485142 dates the pattern registration to 1906.
England, United Kingdom
About Burgess & Leigh
William Leigh and Frederick Rathbone Burgess began manufacturing at Central Pottery, Burslem, in 1862. They moved to Hill Pottery in 1868 and later to purpose-built Middleport Pottery. Their sons continued the business after the founders died. The Leigh family became sole owners in 1912, and the company incorporated as Burgess & Leigh Ltd. in 1919. Charlotte Rhead designed for the firm from 1926 to 1931.
The factory continued during the Second World War. William and Rosemary Dorling rescued the business in 1999, and Denby Holdings acquired Burleigh in 2010. Re-Form Heritage acquired the Middleport buildings in 2011 and reopened them to visitors in 2014. They moved to the Hill Pottery in 1868 and later to the purpose-built Middleport Pottery beside the Trent & Mersey Canal. The printed establishment year 1851 belonged to predecessor Hulme & Booth.
The business continued under the founders’ sons. They moved to Hill Pottery in 1868 and Middleport Pottery in 1889. The Leigh family became sole owners in 1912, and the company was incorporated as Burgess & Leigh Ltd in 1919. Charlotte Rhead worked there from 1926 to 1931.
Also known as: Burgess & Leigh Ltd · Burgess & Leigh, Burleigh Pottery · Burgess, Dorling & Leigh · Burgess, Leigh & Co · Burgess and Leigh · Burgess, Leigh & Co. · Burleigh Ware · B & L · B D & L · Burgess & Leigh; Burleigh Pottery
Look-alikes & how to tell them apart
Samuel Alcock & Co. →
Burgess and Leigh acquired Hill Pottery moulds and engravings from Alcock, including the beehive device. Read B & L and the full factory wording rather than attributing every beehive to one maker.
Royal Crown Derby / Derby porcelain →
Old Derby is a Burgess and Leigh pattern name on B & L Ltd earthenware. It does not make that ware a product of the Derby porcelain factory.