Wade Ceramics
Wade Ceramics Ltd. were manufacturers of porcelain and earthenware, including animal figures for their Collectors Club, whisky flagons, and a variety of industrial ceramics.
Over the years, Wade produced many licensed pieces based on popular TV shows, comic books, Disney films, and more recently the Mr. Men books and Pokémon, and has won numerous awards.
1867 Wade Ceramics was established. It was originally made up of a number of different companies founded by various members of the Wade family. The original companies were:
- Wade and Myatt (later became George Wade and Son, who made industrial ceramics and Wade Whimsies). Established 1867.
- John Wade and Co (later Wade, Heath and Co, who made decorative ware, particularly art deco vases in the 1930s). Established 1867.
- J. and W. Wade (later A. J. Wade and Co, who made tiles, notably the original tiles for the London Underground). Established 1891.
In 1905, George Wade and Son took over rival company Henry Hallen. As the Hallen firm was owned by a distant relation and had been founded in 1810, Wade Ceramics claimed to have been established in 1810.
In the 1930s Colonel Sir George Wade gained control of the Wade companies that had previously been run by his father and uncles. He also started further Wade factories, including Wade (Ulster) Ltd in Portadown.
In the 1950s, the Wade potteries created Whimsies, small solid porcelain animal figures first developed by Sir George Wade, which became popular and collectable in Britain and America. Their other brand names of inexpensive collectable porcelain included TV Pets, Whoppas, and Minikins.
1958 The original Wade companies were finally united as Wade Potteries Limited
1986 Sir George Wade died at the age of 94 years
1987 His innovative son George Anthony (Tony) Wade died of leukaemia
In early 1990s the Irish pottery factory was renamed Seagoe Ceramics and was closed down.
1998 the Wade potteries were taken over by Beauford Plc and were renamed Wade Ceramics Ltd.
1999 Beauford Plc's pottery factories were taken over by a management buyout[1] becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Wade Allied Holdings Ltd. Edward Duke former CEO of Beauford became the major shareholder of Wade Allied Holdings and Chairman of Wade Ceramics. His partner, Paul Farmer became Managing Director of Wade.
In 2009 Wade Allied Holdings invested £7.9m in a new factory with the latest robotic manufacturing equipment to make ceramic flagons for the whisky industry.
2010 The last Wade factory in Burslem was closed and sold for housing development
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times May 5, 1999