Palissy Works, Chancery Lane, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

"Palissy Works
These works in Chancery Lane were erected in 1862 by Richard H. Grove For the purpose of decorating, not manufacturing, china ware. In 1867, he retired and was succeeded by his son, Frederick Wedgwood Grove, and his partner, John Stark. They commenced manufacturing their own ware having increased the premises For the purpose and erected the necessary kilns and machinery. They manufactured earthenware only. In this, all the usual dinner, dessert, toilet and other services and domestic articles were produced, of all degrees of decoration - from plain and printed to enamelled and gilt varieties. Spirit and wine show-barrels or casks were also specialities. Messrs. Grove & Stark continued to 1885. F. W. Grove continued to 1889, the firm subsequently becoming Grove & Oliver (1889-94), Grove & Prowse (1895-8), then Grove & Co. to about 1904."

From: 'Jewitt's Ceramic Art of Great Britain 1800-1900' - first published 1878, revised 1883.

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Jewitt states that "These works in Chancery Lane were erected in 1862 by Richard H. Grove..."   

However the 1861 census records that Richard H Grove was "a China manufacturer employing 15 men, 16 women, 4 boys and 3 girls"
so we do know that Grove was in business before 1862 and a back-stamp used by Palissy Pottery Ltd says "EST 1853"

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The works took their name from a Frenchman: Bernard Palissy b.1509 d.1590  he was a French Huguenot potter and writer, particularly associated with decorated rustic ware, a type of earthenware covered with coloured lead glazes.
from c.1948 Palissy Pottery Ltd introduced a backstamp which incorporated a likeness of Bernard Palissy.

Bernard Palissy b.1509 d.1590

 
Palissy Pottery Ltd backstamp
 

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click the occupier name for more information:-

From	To	Occupier	Comments
1862 (1853?)	1869	Richard H. Grove	although Jewitt (see above) states that Richard H Grove was a decorator of china ware and not a manufacturer - an advertisement dated 1867 (see below) states that he was a manufacturer and the 1861 census confirms this
1870	1871	Grove and Robinson	recorded in 1870 Harrod directory
1872	1884	Grove and Stark	Frederick Wedgwood Grove, and his partner, John Stark
1885	1889	F. W. Grove
1889	1894	Grove & Oliver
1895	1898	Grove & Prowse
1898	1904	Grove & Co.
1905	1929	A.E. Jones / A.E. Jones & Co
1929	1946	Albert E. Jones (Longton) Ltd
1946	1989	Palissy Pottery Ltd

NOTE: dates are drawn from a number of sources and may overlap or be out by a few years.

1887 OS map of the Commerce Street / Chancery Lane area of Longton
showing the Palissy Works

1898 OS map of the Commerce Street / Chancery Lane area of Longton
showing the Palissy Works

Questions/comments/contributions? Steve Birks

13 November 2005