Mason's Ironstone China  




 

Location and period of operation:

Mason's Ironstone China

Hanley

1968

1973

Mason's Ironstone China
(as part of the Wedgwood Group)

Hanley

1973

1998

Mason's Ironstone China
(as part of the Wedgwood Group)

Barlaston

1998

2005+

 

Earthenware, and in particular decorated ironstone, manufacturer at the Broad Street Works, Shelton (Hanley), Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • As far back as 1852 a Francis Morley bought the moulds of C. J. Mason, inventor of Mason's Ironstone China

  • Manufacture of 'Mason's Patent Ironstone China' continued under various owners and in particular from 1862 as G. L. Ashworth & Bros - which in 1883 was aquired by the Goddard family. 

  • In March 1968 the business was renamed 'Mason's Ironstone China' in order to capitalise on the original Mason name. John Stringer Goddard was the Managing Director at the time.

  • In 1973 the business was sold to the Wedgwood Group. John Stringer Goddard (the third generation to own and manage the business) continued in a management role until his retirement in 1981. 

  • In 1998 production of Mason's Ironstone was transfered to Wedgwood's Barlaston factory and production at the Broad Street works ceased. The site was cleared in 1999. 

"The post-1968 Mason products included good quality mid-market domestic earthenware and Mason's Ironstone China produced in the traditional 19th century shapes and patterns. 
In 1971 the company was still advertising 'Mandalay' an original Miles Mason pattern dating from the earliest years of the 19th century.
Wedgwood continued to produce a small range of traditional hand-painted Mason's Ironstone China shapes at its Barlaston factory up to at least 2005"   

Michael Perry, 'A Handbook of British Pottery Manufacturers 1900-2010'

 

Previously: G. L. Ashworth & Bros

 

Marks used on ware for identification:

Mason's Ironstone China

 

variants of this style of mark were continued by G.L. Ashworth & Bros Ltd,
Masons's Ironstone China Ltd, and even by Wedgwood in the 21st Centuary

 


 

- details of the Broad Street Works

 


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks