© Langley Mill Pottery Collectors’ Society
William Bourne, a potter at Belper, recognised the qualities of the clay at Denby where a small pottery had been established in 1809. He took over the site and in 1812 gave his son Joseph the task of developing the pottery. Early products were salt-glazed bottles and jars to hold liquid commodities of the day (ink, mineral water, cream pots, blacking bottles, medicines etc.) as well as some fine examples of 'sprigg' ware, all exported around the world.The pottery bore the name of Joseph Bourne until 1976 and local clay is still used to make Denby stoneware.
On Joseph’s death in 1860 the pottery was taken over by his son Joseph Harvey Bourne, but he died nine years later and the business was run by Joseph Harvey’s widow Sarah Elizabeth Bourne from 1869 until 1898.
Under her management the product range was extended to include decorated art ware and a wider range of kitchen ware.
From 1907 until 1942 the pottery was managed by Joseph Bourne Wheeler. During the period between the wars modern kilns were installed and freelance designers recruited, enabling the introduction of new ranges of kitchen ware, with Cottage Blue and Manor Green replacing the now unfashionable salt glaze. The range of art and gift ware was extended with new glazes such as Electric Blue and included novelty animal items.
When the restrictions of the Second World War were lifted Denby resumed its focus on kitchenware and cookware, leading to the development of oven-to-table ware, under the guidance of designers such as Glyn Colledge. In 1970 the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange and has subsequently been subject to a series of acquisitions and management buy-outs. In 2009 Denby celebrated the bicentenary of its inception. It now sells ranges of china and tableware to complement its traditional stoneware and its recent acquisition of the Victorian pottery Burgess, Dorling, and Leigh of Stoke-on-Trent illustrates its readiness to move into new products and markets in order to remain a viable business.
Joseph Bourne 1788-1860