Stoke-on-Trent - Potworks of the week


contents: 2011 photos


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Robinson and Leadbeater, Wolfe Street, Stoke 

Robinson and Leadbeater operated from their large works on the corner of Wolfe Street and Back Glebe Street from 1864-1924. They also operated a works at nearby Wharf Street from 1870 to about 1880. 

Adverts state the firm was established in 1850 - (although nothing is presented to show how this date was arrived at - it is the date that their predecessor Giovanni Meli started in business)

"Glebe Street Works and Wharf Street Works These two manufactories belonged to Robinson & Leadbeater and were confined to the production of Parian goods, of which they were among the largest producers. The Glebe Street Works were commenced in 1850 by a clever Italian figure-modeller named Giovanni Meli, who produced fine groups and single figures till 1865, when he sold the business, plant, moulds and machinery to Robinson & Leadbeater...."

Jewitt's Ceramic Art of Great Britain


 

1898 map of The Glebe area of Stoke town
1898 map of The Glebe area of Stoke town 
the works of Robinson and Leadbeater, shown in red, are on the corner of Wolfe Street and Back Glebe Street
the Trent and Mersey (right hand side) and Newcastle to Stoke canals are shown in blue
at the top left of the map are the Spode works

 

2011 Google map of the same area
2011 Google map of the same area
The land once occupied by Robinson & Leadbeater is now the Kingsway Car Park.

Wolfe Street was split in two and renamed South Wolfe Street and Kingsway - 
Kingsway was named for the 1913 visit of King George V and Queen Mary to formally open the
Kings Hall which was built as an extension to Stoke Town Hall. 

The Trent & Mersey canal is on the right of the map, the Newcastle Canal fell
into disuse and was filled in long ago. 
Between the canal and Stoke Church many properties were demolished to
make way for the A500 dual carriageway. 

 

Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater, Wolfe Street, Stoke.

"In the manufacture of Parian statuary we understand that this firm is very prominent in the country. Established in 1850, their business has experienced the steady increase which is only obtained by careful attention to the details of the manufacture and of turning out their goods in the best style. In the large and imposing premises at the corner of Wolfe Street and Back Glebe Street they employ a large staff of artists and sculptors, who are constantly at work giving vent to artistic ideas, and while examining the extensive show rooms we were delighted to observe the beautiful specimens of statuary, busts, vases, plaques, etc., too numerous to detail here.

Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater have to be congratulated upon their staff, both of artists and sculptors, by whom they are well supported, and enabled to give studios in art which are so much appreciated by a discerning public. It would be superfluous here to go into the details of the manufactures exemplified by this firm, but by their mechanical appliances Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater have, of course, been able to reduce the cost of production, and it is within their power, therefore, to place in the market many beautiful specimens at prices which not so long ago would hove been considered ridiculously small. The large quantity sent out from these works is not confined to the home market alone, but the foreign and colonial markets are also extensive purchasers."

from: A descriptive account of The Potteries (illustrated)
1893 advertising and trade journal. Page 76

 


Parian Busts by Robinson and Leadbeater
Parian Busts by Robinson and Leadbeater
General Gordon (1885), Cecil Rhodes (1900), Baden-Powell (1900)

picture of busts: angloboerwarmuseum.com 

 

Robinson and Leadbeater mark
Robinson and Leadbeater mark 

 



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

 

Wolfe Street

(31, Church Street)

 

British Widows Assurance Co., Ltd. Manager, F. Haywood

British Widows Ordinary and Industrial Assurance Co., Ltd . Superintendent, John Morris (district office)

 

7 Noccetti, Antony, oyster merchant

Moore, Bernard, consulting potter

Wood, Leonard, tile merchant


—Here is Tower Street— 

—Here is Glebe Street—

 

Hancock, S. and Sons, earthenware manufacturers, Gordon Works.

Atlas China Co.,Ltd., Atlas China Works.

Robinson and Leadbeater, Ltd., parian manufacturers, busts of celebrities.

 

—Here is Glebe Street—



 


 

 

 


contents: 2011 photos

 

 

Related pages 


Robinson and Leadbeater 

Giovanni Meli 

Newcastle-under-Lyme Canal 


also see..

Descriptive Account of The Potteries - 1893 

Advert of the Week

Photo of the Week