_The Bell Works._--The Bell Works, of which, as they appeared in 1865, I give an engraving, Fig. 367, was, at the time when the great Josiah Wedgwood entered on its occupancy, the property of Mr. John Bourne, an army contractor, in the neighbouring town of Newcastle. From him the property, about the year 1771, passed to his grandson, Mr. John Adams, of Cobridge, and in 1847 the estate again passed by will into the hands of the late Mr. Isaac Hitchen, of Alsager. The pot-works were occupied by Josiah Wedgwood, as tenant to Mr. John Bourne, until his removal to Etruria. The next tenant was, I believe, Mr. William Bourne, an earthenware manufacturer, who held them for some years, and was tenant in 1809. Mr. Bourne afterwards entered into partnership with a potter named Cormie, and the works were carried on under the style of “Bourne and Cormie.” In 1836, the works having then remained for some time unoccupied, were divided, a portion being taken by Messrs. Beech and Jones as an earthenware manufactory, another portion taken away for the building of the present Independent Chapel, which was erected on its site in the following year; and other parts were let off to various holders for different purposes apart from the pot trade. In 1839, the partnership between Messrs. Beech and Jones was dissolved, the former gentleman alone continuing to occupy the same portion of the premises, in which he produced china and earthenware figures. In 1846 Mr. Beech, having increased his business, became tenant of the whole of the remaining premises, with the exception of that part occupied by Mr. Dean’s printing-office, &c., and in 1853 took into partnership Mr. Brock, which firm, however, only lasted a couple of years. In 1855, Mr. Brock went out of the concern, and from that date Mr. William Beech carried on the manufactory until his death, which took place in 1864. It was next carried on by Messrs. Beech and Podmore; but in 1876 a part of the premises was purchased by the Board of Health for the purpose of building a covered market on the site, and the remainder was bought by Mr. George Beardmore of Rode Heath and taken down; thus these historically interesting works have been brought to a close. [Illustration: Fig. 367.--The Bell Works, Burslem.] At these “Bell Works” Josiah Wedgwood turned his attention more especially to the production of the fine and delicate descriptions of earthenware which soon earned for him the proud distinction of “Queen’s Potter.”