Samuel Alcock

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The Nelson Jug, 1851, Samuel Alcock & Co. V&A Museum no. CIRC.645-1962

Samuel Alcock (1799-1848) was one of the leading pottery manufacturers in Burslem, Staffordshire in the middle of the 19th century.

Samuel (also spelt Samual in some contemporary references), born in Kingsley, Staffordshire, was the youngest of the nine children of Thomas and Katherine Alcock. Though from a farming background, he developed an interest in commerce following time spent with his uncle in the Market Square, Hanley. His introduction to pottery came when he embarked upon a partnership with Ralph Stevenson of Cobridge, Staffordshire. By the 1830s Stevenson employed 600 people at his works.

In 1828, Alcock developed his own business and began work on the Hill Top site in Cobridge. In 1839 he completed work on a large factory, built in the classical style on Westport Road. The novelist Arnold Bennett called these works "Sytch Pottery" in the Clayhanger book.

In 1836, Alcock was appointed improvement commissioner for Burslem and on the 9th June 1842 was elected chief constable for the town. In this post he took an important part in quelling the Chartist Riots.

The town of Burslem was fortunately prepared for a proper reception of the Banditti. A small troop of the 2nd Dragoon Guards had arrived there from Newcastle, under the command of Major Trench, and a large body of volunteers, from among the friends of law and social order of all classes of society, had been hastily organized as special constables, by the praiseworthy exertions of Samuel Alcock, Esq., the chief constable of Burslem.^[1]

On 10th November 1848 Samuel Alcock died and his works closed around 1859. Samuel was married to Elizabeth and had eleven children.