Fishley Holland family, Dunster & Minehead Potteries

William Fishley Holland







George Tonkin Holland - Dunster

Is this signature Fishley Holland. It certainly looks like W ? Holland. Do you think it would have any value? It's a nice little find whatever.
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It is a "Fishley Holland" from the 1950s/1960s and possibly by William Jr. or more likely his brother, George. I say that because it looks as if it had a sticky label on the bottom when originally purchased and that fits in more with George.

They usually had incised initial signatures.

I picked up this small vase which I took to be from Dunster and the work of one of the various Fishley-Hollands. Mark on base however is GTH which I have been unable to ID. Any suggestions appreciated, John

I always thought this was for George Fishley Holland.

That was my first thought but I was confused by the T and I thought he signed in full. If this was by him would this be Dunster or Clevedon?

I think his middle name was "Tonkin" and pretty sure it's Dunster.

I've read about the initials standing for "George Tonkin Holland" at least. Often marked "Dunster" too.

William Fishley Holland Jnr (1916-2001) I think?

Some information that may clarify the relationship between the two potteries.

The Fishley Holland Pottery in Clevedon was started by William Fishley Holland senior, who had started potting with his grandfather, Edwin Beer Fishley, at the Fremington Pottery that was situated in North Devon.

He went to Clevedon in 1920 to help Sir Ambrose Elton continue the Sunflower Pottery that had gained a significant reputation under his father, Sir Edmund, but this quickly proved unviable. Therefore he bought a property in Court Lane in Clevedon in 1922 (some sources say 1921 but I think the former is more likely) where he lived and started up his pottery.

William had two daughters, Constance and Isabel, and two sons, George Tonkin and William Fishley junior (known as Bill). Upon leaving school George and Isabel chose to work at the pottery but Bill trained as an architect and Constance became a secretary. George would have been 14 when he started at the pottery and was able to throw very well from an early age.

During the Second World War the two brothers joined up, which left William senior and Isabel to run the pottery.

After leaving the Navy at the end of the war, George came back with fresh ideas and extra staff were taken on. After this period of modernisation George moved to Dunster in 1958 where he potted until 1965 and then moved to Minehead where most of his time was taken up with teaching at the Further Education Centre.

Although William senior was still potting when George left and continued to do so until his death in 1969, the Clevedon pottery was under the ownership of Bill (William junior), who doesn't appear to have potted himself. However, Constance's son, St. John Child, was at this time working with his grandfather and in 1967 Bill's son, Peter Fishley Holland, joined the pottery.

After William senior's death the pottery continued with hired staff until 1977 when it finally closed. The buildings were sold to Norman Darby, who made stoneware there for several years.

At least two other potteries were started by ex-Fishley Holland Clevedon staff, namely the Yeo Pottery (Bill Janes) and the Sheldon Pottery (John & David Bishop).

Finally, Peter Fishley Holland moved to Jedburgh on the Scottish Borders where he continued to pot for a time, although I can't say that I have come across any of his work.

Note: Much of this information comes directly from the family via a booklet written by Jane Lilly around 25 years ago.

I had always wondered myself and recently got this information from a lady called Margaret in Devon (WFH's niece).

inscription says >>>  within this jug there is good liquor, fit for a parson or for vicar
how to drink and not to spill will try the utmost of your skill.

Because of the size of the piece I think that it is earlier than that so 1950s is my guess. They are difficult to date as the grey glaze, which was developed by William's son, George, became fairly standard from the late 1940s until the pottery at Clevedon closed in 1977.

It's William Fishley Holland (full signature) - likely to be from the 1930s.

The other initials could be his daughter, Isabel, who worked at the pottery but I can't be certain of that.

I bought this yesterday. It's not my favourite pottery but it was cheap. Is there a way of dating these pots?

Only by the glaze, which puts this in the 1950s/early 1960s period.

I am supposed to be decluttering but couldn't leave this large William Fishley Holland vase in the charity shop.

I say large because it is 20 cm (8 inches) tall and you usually only see small pieces from this period.

Hi, i bought this vase recently and there is a signature but its pretty much illegible. Anyone recognise it from the decoration? Any help appreciated. thanks

Can anyone identify this posy vase please? It has what looks to be an FH on the base.

This is a nice piece of earlier Fishley Holland with a raised pie-crust edge.

Ian