Wardle and Co

William Wardle was a Staffordshire potter.

• The business was based at Washington Works, Hanley (c.1871-1910), Wolf Street Works, Stoke (c.1910-1924) and Cauldon Works, Shelton (c.1924-1935)

• His son, James, followed his father's trade and set up a pottery in Shelton in the mid-nineteenth century trading as James Wardle

• 1871 The company was not particularly successful, and it was not until his death in 1871 that the business passed into the hands of his wife, Eliza, who carried on trading as Wardle and Co

• With the help of her family and friends Eliza expanded the export business that her husband had initiated and soon moved to a larger factory in Hanley.

• In 1885 a new range of art pottery was introduced, and the company moved into a yet higher gear.

• In 1899 her son-in-law, David Jones, took over management of the factory and introduced new techniques - tube-lining and slip decoration.

• 1908 Jones died and the company was taken over by J. A. Robinson and Sons. The name changed to Wardle Art Pottery.

• 1924 Wardle Art Pottery was later amalgamated with Cauldon Potteries

• Finally ceased trading in 1935

See Also

Loading...

Sources of Information

• [1] The Potteries Web Site