Thomas Lawrence 
Thomas Lawrence  (Longton) Ltd






 

Location and period of operation:

Thomas Lawrence 

Thomas Lawrence 
Thomas Lawrence (Longton) Ltd

Stoke 

Longton

Longton

1885

1895

1938

c.1898

1938

1962/4

 

Earthenware manufacturer at Stoke and then Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
  • The original business was on the corner of Wharf Street, Stoke. (The Trent Bridge Pottery). 

  • In 1895 he built the Falcon works in Waterloo Street, Longton. (In the early 1950s Waterloo Street
    was renamed Barford Street).

  • In the same year he took his nephew, John Grundy into partnership. 

  • Lawrence must have continued with the Wharf Street Works for a period. The registered design number 314054 gives the address as Wharf Street, Stoke.

  • From around 1920 Grundy was the Managing Director.

  • Thomas Lawrence died in April 1932 and John Grundy became the sole proprietor. 

  • In 1938 John Grundy died and the business was sold to Grundy's son-in-law Mr Richard Hull (jnr) and Mr. E.J. Dennis) - the name was changed to 'Thomas Lawrence (Longton) Limited'.

  • Richard Hull was already a partner in Shaw & Copestake Ltd.

  • In 1947 the Pottery Gazette lists Richard Hull as Managing Director (he was also MD of Shaw & Copestake) and T. Brian as Works Manager.

  • The two companies operated independently.

  • In 1957, to accommodate both businesses, a new factory was built in Normacot Road, Longton, on land opposite the old Shaw and Copestake factory.  At this time around 140 people were employed. The old factory was acquired by J. W. Beswick to allow for their expansion. 

  • At the new premises,  the output of the two businesses gradually merged and in 1962 the Thomas Lawrance business was folded into that of Shaw & Copestake.  Use of the Falcon Mark of Thomas Lawrence was ceased in 1964. 

 

Shaw & Copestake continued until 1982



T. Lawrence
Earthenware manufacturer
Toilet Ware and Fancy Goods
Wharf Street, Stoke-on-Trent

advert from 1892 Keates Directory

courtesy: R. K. Henrywood - Staffordshire Potters 1781-1900 

 


 


Lawrence, Thos., toilet ware
& decorated earthenware
manufacturers

from..... 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel 
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'

In the early 1950s Waterloo Street
was renamed Barford Street

 


 


Thomas Lawrence (Longton) Ltd
Falcon Works : Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

1947 Pottery Gazette 


 


Falcon Ware
Thomas Lawrence (Longton) Ltd
Falcon Works Waterloo Street
 Longton  Stoke-on-Trent

1951 Pottery Gazette 


advert for both Thomas Lawrence (Longton) Ltd
and
Shaw & Copestake Limited

1956 Pottery Gazette 

 

 


 

 
Cavalier jug
one of a series of items produced with the Cavalier theme 

see other items shown in the advert in the 1951 Pottery Gazette (see above)


T. Lawrence . Longton . England 
Hand Painted Ware

 

photos courtesy:  Greg Danaj

 



 


Early Falcon ware urn

 


Falcon ware Deco style jug

 pattern name is Assyrian

 


pot in the shape of an orange
with Falcon Ware backstamp and impressed with Sylvac mould number 582

This pot (like many other ware) was Sylvac and can usually be found with the Sylvac impressed name.

Falcon Ware - shell flower vase 

Typical of the Falcon/Sylvac type ware

 


 

  
Handpainted Falcon Ware jug 
carried the Falcon Ware mark from the 1950s - early 60s 

 




Cup from the Teddy Nursery range

dates from c.1960-62 and is one of the last designs produced by the Thomas Lawrence company. The Teddy Range was very popular and was developed under the Sylvac name by Shaw & Copestake and by subsequent owners such as Crown Winsor


Teddy Ware
T. Lawrence (Longton) Ltd
England 

the design is marked 'Jeanette Ruti' - nothing is known about her

photos courtesy: Ellen Haeusler

 


 

Marks used on ware for identification:

FALCON WARE


 


Printed mark of the 1920 - 1930s 
The monogram in the centre LG stands for "Lawrence & Grundy" 

Thomas Lawrence was the founder of the company and his nephew John Grundy who was the managing director from about 1920.


T. Lawrence
Falcon Ware
Made in England

Printed mark of the 1920 - 1930s - often associated with impressed marks.

 


1940s (c.1944+) 

c.1947+

 


 

  
Marks with the letter A are from the war time period in the 1940s
they were issued under the Wartime Concentration Scheme 

 


 



Printed mark 1940-50s 
Associated with an impressed "Made in England"

203 is the model number
 
Printed mark 1950s - early 60s 


BEEFEATER is the name of the toby jug

 


 


plain earthenware jug produced for 
use in the armed forces canteens 

GR VI
T Lawrence (Longton) Ltd
1945 

 


 


1953 map showing the Falcon Works

In 1895 Thomas Lawrence built the Falcon works in Waterloo Street, Longton. 
(In the early 1950s Waterloo Street was renamed Barford Street).

In 1957 the business moved to new works in Normacot Road, Longton. 

 

map courtesy: old-maps.co.uk

 


 

the new Sylvan Works in Normacot Road, Longton
the new Sylvan Works in Normacot Road, Longton
opened in 1957

to the left is the works of Shaw & Copestake and to the right is Thomas Lawrence  

At these new premises,  the output of the two businesses gradually merged 
and the Falcon Mark of Thomas Lawrance was ceased in 1964. 


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks


 

 

related links... 


Shaw & Copestake - The Sylvan Works were founded in 1894 by William Shaw and his uncle William Copestake. 

Normacot Road, Longton - Normacot Road was once an important thoroughfare from Normacot to Longton Town, it was lined with many potworks and terrace houses.

Longton - one of the Six Towns of the City of Stoke-on-Trent