Shelley Potteries
of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
1853 Henry Wileman, a London china merchant, moved to Longton and joined in a partnership, Knight and Wileman at the Foley Works. From 1929 it was known as Shelley Potteries.
1855 Mr. Henry Wileman, of the firm of Knight and Wileman, earthenware manufacturers, Longton[1]
1856 Knight retired leaving Wileman in charge of the pottery
1857 Mr. Wileman’s, Foley Works, near Longton.[2]
1864 Henry Wileman died. Presumably his sons Charles and James, took over the business.
Sometime later Charles retired, after this the pottery took the name J. F. Wileman.
1867 Joseph Ball Shelley became a partner.
1872 Wileman and Company was formed.
1881 Percy Shelley joined his father and introduced more elaborately decorated wares. He had an Arts Degree and aimed to make improvements.
1884 After a re-examination of the estate of Henry Wileman, the Partnership between James Frederick Wileman and Joseph Ball Shelley, carrying on business as China Manufacturers, at the Foley China Works, Fenton, in the county of Stafford, under the style or firm of Wileman and Co., was dissolved, so far as relates to the said James Frederick Wileman; and that the business of China Manufacture will in future be carried on by the undersigned, Joseph Ball Shelley, under the said style of Wileman and Co.[3].
The earthenware factory next door (which was part of the concern) was closed and only the china works continued.
1893 Percy visited the Chicago Exhibition and saw the opportunity to cultivate the American market. This resulted in the production of china dinner ware. Artists were engaged to paint on plates for American use.
1894 Wileman and Co began earthenware production in a new earthenware works. Wares produced in the new works were labelled with unique backstamps.
1896 Percy Shelley succeeded his father as proprietor. He inherited an entirely new factory which had been built on an adjoining site two years earlier, to make ornamental earthenware and a range of under glaze hand-painted wares known as Intarsio**.
1910 Shelley replaced Wileman and Co. as the backstamps on the china.
1913 Two of Shelley's sons joined the firm, and later a third became its accountant. It was about this time that the name Foley China was changed to Shelley China, as the former could not be registered as a trade name.
1929 As a private limited company the firm adopted the title of Shelley Potteries,
1937 The father died and two surviving sons carried on the business.
WWII. War brought the inevitable restrictions in the home market, so the few remaining decorators had the task of supplying the quota allowed for the purpose of earning dollars.
Post-WWII. New designs were prepared and decorators were trained in anticipation of restrictions being lifted.
1947 Advert in British Industries Fair Catalogue as Exhibiting Member of the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation of Federation House, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Composite Exhibit. (Pottery and Glassware Section - Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. A.1226) [4]
Under two of the fourth generation, Alan and Donald Shelley, the output of decorated china increased year by year, mostly for export. The making of china dinner ware for the dollar countries was given first priority and these wares became the firm's most important asset.
1966 Shelley was bought out by Allied British Potteries (presumably Allied English Potteries).
- Note: **
- L'intarsio o tarsia lignea è un tipo di decorazione che si realizza accostando legni o altri materiali (avorio, osso o madreperla) di colori diversi, tagliati sulla scorta di cartoni. ♦ A type of decoration on wood or other materials (ivory, bone, mother-of-pearl, etc.) in different colours, as inlay work. [5]