Ridgway & Co. Armorial Plates, 19th Century

A pair of Ridgway & Co. Porcelain armorial plates, 19th century, circa 1840, the first plate decorated with elaborate gilt maroon borders, the centre painted with the Westhead coat of arms, with the motto 'Ora et Labora'. The reverse marked John Ridgway and co/ presented to J.P. Westhead Esq. The second plate with similar decoration however instead bearing the arms of Westhead quartering brown of Lea castle, representing the marriage of the parents of J. P. Westhead. The John scarce collection, 26 cm diameter, other notes: J.P.Westhead (1807-1877) was a prominent businessman and Weslyian Methodist. He was Director of the London and north Western Railways, M.P for Knaresborough and later York. He was the Son of Edward Westhead, who had married Ann brown, heiress to Lea castle. By 1862, the Ridgway factory was known as Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co. Several unique presentation services were made for him as gifts, bearing his coat of arms or crest. He married Betsy Chappell in 1828. He later inherited Lea castle from his father. The service was presented to Joshua on the 15th June 1847 at the Albion Hotel, Piccadilly Manchester. By the shareholders of the Manchester and Birmingham railway Company in recognition of his work as Chairman, before it was absorbed into the London and north Western railway. Approximately 1280 gms total weight together