Son of the founder of the Castleford Pottery. Dunderdale Junior was to wed Anne Bramley of Methley which led to their move to Dunford House. The property described as a Manor House which of course is the one highly visible from the main road from Castleford to Methley near to the waterbridge on the river Calder (see Gallery Places).
Items of their (pottery) fineware which are zealously collected and extremely expensive are namely creamware, stoneware and pearlware. Their basic products were described as ‘Queens’ or ‘cream coloured ware’ and later ‘Parica’ with double twisted handles, open work baskets, dishes, stands and plates. Their Black and Egyptian ware (basalt) manufactured for use at funeral services were of a superior quality and design – all much sought after. Included in their product list were the ‘relief modelle’ distinctive types of stoneware carrying the identification known to collectors as :- ‘D.D. and Co., Castleford.’ ‘ D.D.and Co., Castleford Pottery’ and ‘Castleford Pottery.’
A pattern book of their products was published in French and Spanish offering the view that the company had a healthy stake in the European market. A copy of their design bases is also placed in St Oswald’s Church.
Dunderdale was a churchwarden and overseer of the poor in the village, he was also First Lieutenant of the Pontefract Volunteers in 1798/99 – a man quite clearly involved in the community of this village. He is buried in St John’s churchyard which had been highly Leeds, his premature end possibly affected by damage to his products and subsequent export trade and finally his business as a result of losses experienced in the Napoleonic War.
His pottery which had been commercially successful producing items which were much sought after, creating wealth and regular employment in Castleford and Ferrybridge. Mr Pulleine of Methley was one of two collectors of Dunderdale pottery but nothing is known of their whereabouts now.
Eleven items of another collection can be viewed in the Yorkshire museum at York.
Pic1. Glazed porcelain with moulded decoration outlined in blue enamel, painted landscape in chocolate enamel. Castleford; early 19th cent. height 5 in.