Biltons Ltd (1912 Ltd)

Biltons Ltd	Stoke	1900	1911
Biltons Ltd (1912 Ltd)	Stoke	1912	1974
Biltons Tableware Ltd	Stoke	1974	1998
Biltons Tableware (1998) Ltd	Stoke	1998	1999

Earthenware manufacturer in London Road, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Biltons were manufacturers of low- to mid-price earthenware tablewares of traditional design. Although forming part of several mergers and takeovers the Biltons trade name continued in use as a distinctive marketing strength.

In 1911 the business was in financial difficulties and was acquired by Joseph Tellwright and in January 1912 was wound up. The business was continued by Tellwright as Biltons (1912) Ltd.
Biltons were an important manufacturer of tea and coffee pots in addition to general earthenware and floor tiles.
In the 1920s tableware, figures, nursery ware and animal 'grotesques' were added to an expanding range.
Glazed wall tiles and tiled fireplaces were added in the 1930s.
In 1941 the factory was closed as part of the wartime concentration scheme. The business re-opened at the end of the war.
The company officers in 1951 were: Managing Director - J. Tellwright; Director & Sales Manager - F. Boulton; Decorating Manager - E. J. Miles; Director & Works Manager - A. G. Harley Jones (probably previously of the Wilton Pottery).
The company officers in 1957 were: Managing Director - J. Tellwright; Director - Peter Thain Tellwright; Director & Sales Manager - F. Boulton; Assistant Works Manager (Earthenware) - John Blackhurst.
NOTE: A. G. Harley Jones is still listed as Director & Works Manager - however this will be an out of date reference as he died in 1952.
By 1960 J. Tellwright and Peter Thain Tellwright were joint Managing Directors and John Blackhurst had become the Works Manager (earthenware). The commercial manager was F. Sutton.
From 1974 the business traded as Biltons Tableware Ltd.
In 1986 the company was purchased by the home furnishings company Coloroll Ltd and became part of the Coloroll Ceramics Group. The owners of Biltons at the time were: Peter Thain Tellwright (son of Joseph Tellwright); Managing Director - Alan Yates; Sales Director - James Parker.
From 1986 to 1989 Biltons Tableware Ltd operated as part of the Coloroll Ceramics Group.
As a result of a failure to raise capital Coloroll was liquidated in 1990. There was a management buyout of Biltons and Staffordshire Potteries Ltd (another subsidiary of Coloroll Ceramics) and they jointly adopted the name Staffordshire Tableware Ltd.
In 1994 the Biltons part of the new business was put up for sale. A management buyout took place in August 1995.
Financial difficulties continued and the company was put into administration in 1998 and purchased by an investment trust who restructured the business into three comapnies - Stoke Potteries (Holdings) Ltd (a holding company); Stoke Potteries Ltd (a manufacturing company) and Biltons Tableware (1998) Ltd (a marketing comany).
The newly formed group went into voluntary liquidation in January 1999.
In 2009/10 the site was cleared and a housing trust accommodation built on the site.

Biltons Ltd, London Road Works, Stoke-on-Trent
Teapots, Jugs, Coffee filters, Cocoas &c

1960s and 1970s
Geometric styles in shape and surface pattern - floral designs are very stylised

accessories such as place mats, cutlery and the like were produced to match Biltons patterns

From 1986 to 1989 Biltons Tableware Ltd operated as part of the Coloroll Ceramics Group

From 1986 to 1989 Biltons Tableware Ltd operated
as part of the Coloroll Ceramics Group

the canal had been abandoned in 1935 and subsequently filled in
on London Road the Vine Inn was surrounded on both sides by the Bilstons' factory

the Biltons works is shown in the red rectangle
London Road is marked in dark blue and the mostly dried up Newcastle-under-Lyme canal shown in light blue
the numerous bottle kilns of many other pottery factories can be seen
in the top right is the parish church of St. Peter Ad Vincula