Minerva Works, Fenton

Minerva Works, Fenton
Park Street, Fenton. In the Lane Delph Area.

The works gets its name from "Minerva" who in the Roman religion, was the goddess of handicrafts,
the professions and the arts. Her shrine on the Aventine in Rome was a meeting place for guilds of craftsmen,
including at one time dramatic poets and actors.

The Minerva works were established in 1801 (according to Jewitt's 'Ceramic Art of Great Britain'..)

By 1812 the works were held by Charles Mason & Co., who first made the famous Patent Ironstone China.

The Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Company Ltd
operated at the Minerva works from 1889-1948

1906
Part of the works was rebuilt in 1906

Detail of the 1906 rebuild

Photos: Aug 2001 - taken just before the demolition of the Minerva Works

Minerva Works, Fenton

"A works on the site of the present [c.1963] Minerva Works in Park Street was in existence in the early 1760's, owned by the Broade family and in the tenure of James Kent; the Broades were looking for a new tenant in 1764.

In 1806 or 1807 it was taken over by Miles Mason (1752-1822), who moved there from the Victoria Works, Market Street (now King Street). His eldest son William (1785 - c.1855) worked with him until 1811 when he started to make earthenware at a works nearby, and when Miles retired in 1813 it was to his other two sons, George Miles (1789-1859) and Charles James (1791-1856), that the Minerva Works passed."

Victoria History of the County of Stafford Vol VIII.

1925 map of the Lane Delph area of Fenton - showing the Minerva Works

Coalport
operated at the Minerva works from 1985-2000

Part of the old works of 1906 and the extension of 1950

In 1950 there were extensions on both the right and left sides.

From	To	Occupier	Comments
1806	1815	Mason family	The producers of the famous 'Patent Ironstone China' In 1815 George Miles Mason & Charles James Mason moved to the works in what is now Victoria Place.
	1833	Pratt, Hassall & Gerrard	The Minerva Works was in the hands of Pratt, Hassall & Gerrard by 1827.
1833	1833	Hassall & Green	c.1833 Richard Hassall was joined in partnership by Thomas Green (son of Thomas Green of the Churchyard Works, Burslem), shortly afterwards, in the same year, Hassell retired.
1834	1847	Green & Richards	Green brought the works from Francis Brode in 1833 and in 1834 was joined in partnership by Mr. W. Richards of Great Fenton. In 1847 Richards withdrew from the partnership.
1847	1859	Thomas Green	Thomas Green continued alone until his death in 1859.
1859	1876	M Green & Co	In 1859 Thomas's widow, Margaret took over running the works (with her 4 sons). In 1863, she purchased the Minerva Works which, until that time, had been leased.
1876	1889	T.A. & S. Green	Following Margaret Green's death in 1876, two of her sons, Thomas Allen and Spencer, bought out their brothers and the company became T A & S Green.
1889	1948	Crown Staffordshire Porcelain & Co.	This company succeeded T.A. and S. Green at the Minerva Works, Park Street, Fenton, where good quality porcelains were produced. The business became a limited company in 1903. In the present century some very decorative floral encrusted porcelains were made, as were various figure, animal and bird models and miniature pieces.
1948	1985	The Crown Staffordshire China Co Ltd.	With the growing demand for 'bone china' the company was renamed and began to produce only china. In 1965 the Green family's connection with the company ceased and the company became part of the Wedgwood Group in 1973.
1985	2000	Coalport	In July 1967 the Wedgwood Group took over the pottery company of Coalport. Wedgwood moved the Coalport brand to the Minerva Works in 1985 and the name Crown Staffordshire ceased to be used. In 2000 Coalport moved to a purpose built unit at the Wedgwood factory in Barlaston. The Minerva Works was demolished in late 2001.