Thomas C Wild & Sons (Ltd)






 

Location and period of operation:

Thomas C Wild & Sons (Ltd)

Longton

1917

1970

 

  

China manufacturer at the Albert Works and St. Mary's Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • Thomas Clarke Wild (TC) had been in business with his father Thomas Wild as Thomas C Wild & Co and then from 1905 on his own account as Thomas C. Wild. 

  • In 1917 TC's sons Thomas E. Wild and Frederick J. Wild, who were already working in the business, became partners and the company name was changed to Thomas C. Wild and Sons. 

  • 1918 Thomas C. Wild and Sons purchased the china manufacturing business and works of Shore & Coggins Ltd. Also purchased in that year, was the business and works of William Lowe.

  • In the 1920s Thomas C. Wild owned or had an interest in....

  • In 1928 Thomas C. Wild was appointed Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. In the same year he retired from active management of Thomas C. Wild & Sons.

  • In 1928 the businesses of Wild & Adams and Colclough & Co. were closed their factories sold and in 1930 the businesses of William Lowe and Blairs (Longton) Ltd were closed. 

  • In 1932 Thomas C. Wild retired and his sons Thomas E. Wild and Frederick J. Wild were appointed as joint managing directors. 

  • 1933 the business was incorporated as a limited company and Thomas E. Wild was appointed chairman. 

  • In 1934 Harold Holdcroft, former Head Designer at Burslem School of Art, left John Stevenson & Sons and became Art Director at Thomas C. Wild & Sons. It was Harold Holdcroft who introduced the Old Country Roses pattern in 1962. 

  • From 1937 to 39 the St. Mary's Works were expanded and modernised. 

  • December 1937 saw the death of Thomas Clarke Wild who had originally founded the company with his father in 1896. 

  • In 1938 Burgess Bros was closed.

  • Thomas C. Wild & Sons remained active during the preriod of the Second World Ware, producing ware for export.

  • Thomas Cone had closed in 1942 under the Wartime Concentration Scheme and in 1946 the business and works were sold. 

  • In 1946 Reid & Co was incorporated as a limited company and the name changed to Roslyn China Ltd. 

  • In 1946 a major expansion of the St. Mary Works was started and in 1947 a public share issue was made to raise funds for the expansion.  The brothers Thomas E. Wild and Frederick J. Wild remained as joint managing directors with their sons David Gerard Wild, Peter Grenville Wild, Kenneth T. Wild and Anthony L. Wild as directors. 

  • In 1960 Paragon China Ltd was acquired which continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary.

  • 1961 Frederick J. Wild died (age 68).

  • In 1962 Harold Holdcroft, the Art Director at Thomas C Wild & Sons designed the Old Country Roses pattern, which was to become one of the worlds best known and most popular patterns. 

  • 1963 - Roslyn China Ltd was closed as part of the rationalisation of the Wild group. 

  • In 1964 the Lawley Group made a cash and share offer for the whole share capital of Thomas C. Wild & Sons Ltd - this offer was accepted. Thomas E. Wild, present chairman become life president and Peter G. Wild, with his brother Kenneth T. Wild were invited to join the Board of Lawley Group/AEP (Allied English Potteries). 

  • From 1964 onward there was a further expansion of Royal Albert production through use of the Edensor Works (ex Shore & Coggins) and the Montrose Works (ex Shelley)

  • In 1966 there was a reorganisation of the Wild subsidiary companies and Chapmans (Longton) Ltd and Shore & Coggins Ltd were closed. Probably as a result of these closures Peter Grenville Wild resigned from the Board of Allied English Potteries and its subsidiaries (including, presumably, from his position as Joint Managing Director of Thomas C. Wild & Sons).

  • 1968 - as a result of a motor vehicle accident Thomas E. Wild (life president) was killed (he was 77). 

  • 1969 saw the end of the the Wild family involvement in the company - Kenneth T. Wild and David Gerard Wild resigned from the Board of Allied English Potteries and also from the Boards of Thomas C. Wild & Sons Ltd and Paragon China Ltd. 

  • In 1970 Allied English Potteries changed the name of the business to Royal Albert Ltd.

 

 

Previously: Thomas C Wild

Subsequently: Royal Albert Ltd 

 


 

  

 

 


 

     

 


 

 

  

769206 - 1934

 


 

    
Old English Rose

 


c.1927+ 

c.1935+ 

c.1945+ 

probably 1960s +

popular patterns were produced over many years - these marks all appear on Old English Rose ware 

   


this mark was likely used when the
company was renamed to Royal Albert Ltd in 1970 

 

 


 

 

Marks used on ware for identification:

Use of the name 'Royal Albert' dates from c.1904. Early marks (pre-c.1922) include a crown surrounded by a garter carrying the words 'Royal Albert Crown China' and the initials 'TCW'. From c.1917 to c.1935 the crown is surrounded by the words alone with the word 'England' beneath. Post 1935 marks use the words 'Royal Albert Bone China'. Many variations occur and the pattern name is often included. Elaborate floral backstamps are common on post-1945 wares.
Royal Albert Ltd marks include a multicolour floral spray, the pattern name and the company name. 'Royal Albert' was registered as a trade name in 1993 and in 2005 it became a Waterford-Wedgwood fine china brand.

 

 

 


Questions, comments, contributions?  email: Steve Birks