Earthenware and China manufacturer at the Carlton Works, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, England

Wiltshaw and Robinson  made fashionable earthenware which included a range of blush ground items imitating Royal Worcester, blue transfer printed wares, plain white, tinted faience, a range of Imari-style wares in the traditional blue, red and gilt and even sprigged ware in a variety of colours, reminiscent of Wedgwood.

From the 1900s to 1920s Wiltshaw and Robinson was a leading producer of china crested ware under the trade name 'Carlton Heraldic China'.

• James Frederick Wiltshaw had worked in a managerial role for his father, Thomas, who was the managing director of James Macintyre &Co Ltd at the Washington Works, Burslem, until his death in 1887.

• Three years later, in 1890, James founded Wiltshaw and Robinson in partnership with two brothers, James Alcock Robinson and William Herbert Robinson. They took over the relatively modern Copeland Street Works in Stoke-on-Trent that had previously been occupied by a series of (unsuccessful) partnerships whose production had included parian statuary, china and earthenware.

• In 1906 Harold Taylor Robinson, son of James Alcock Robinson, replaced his uncle, William, as a director of the company and this was reflected by the change of name for a brief period to Wiltshaw, Robinson & Son Ltd.

• 1911 - With hindsight of the subsequent business dealings of the Robinsons it seems inevitable that a split would occur.
  James Wiltshaw became sole proprietor of the company in 1911 amidst much rancour having bought out his partners. He proclaimed this in his advertising of the day by stating that he was now the sole proprietor of Wiltshaw & Robinson Ltd.

• The business continued to trade as Wiltshaw & Robinson Ltd. 

• A new designer, Horace Wain, was employed to create new patterns and shapes that would replace the Victorian styles still being made.

• In 1918 a tragic accident at Stoke Railway Station in 1918 resulted in the death of the founder James F Wiltshaw. His son, (Frederick) Cuthbert Wiltshaw, who served in the Royal Flying Corps, was allowed compassionate leave from the war to enable him to put the company's affairs in order. The Armistice was signed, he never returned to service and became the head of the Company.

• In the early 1920s the designer Horace Wain left and moved to A. G.Harley Jones & Co (where Wilton Ware was made) and Enoch Boulton was engaged to be Carlton Ware's designer. The period leading up to 1930 was one of the most inventive and productive in the history of the Carlton Works and much of this can be attributed to the new designer. 

• In 1933, after a long association, they took over Birks, Rawlins & Co Ltd, a bone china manufacturing company and the Vine Pottery was also used to produce 'Carlton Ware'.

• Sadly in 1952 Cuthbert Wiltshaw's wife, Alice was murdered during a robbery at Estoril, their home in Barlaston. 

• In January 1958 the company name was changed to Carlton Ware Ltd. Cuthbert Wiltshaw continue as owner and Managing Director until his death in 1966. 

Wiltshaw and Robinson Heraldic China Ware - HMLS

- model of a 1st World War tank - 

The prefix 'HMLS' stood for 'His Majesty's Land Ship'. The Mk I Tank was the first of its kind accepted into frontline service by the British Army and had made its combat debut on the Western Front at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916.

The crest is that of the City of London

 

Victory of Justice
 Peace Signed at
Versailles, June 28 1919

The British Tank
Successfully used against
The Germans. Combles. Sep.1916

W & R
Stoke-on-Trent
Aldwych China

Aldwych China - this trade name was little used by Wiltshaw & Robinson. It appears that it was first used by Arkinstall & Sons, who from c. 1912 became part of the J. A. Robinson & Sons group of companies (who also owned Wiltshaw & Robinson). 

tank model with the overwhelmingly more common 'Carlton China' mark 

Variation of this crested model tank included one with trailing wheels and some produced with a slot as a money-bank. 

Differing wording was used dependant on the date that the ware was produced reference to War Bonds was sometimes included such as "British Tank Gave Them Hell at the Marne 1918 - Buy War Bonds"; "Buy War Bonds, The Tank Bank" 

W & R
Stoke-on-Trent
Carlton Ware
Made in England

c.1894 onwards

W & R
Stoke-on-Trent
Carlton China

c.1906 onwards

Bridgett & Bates and then Beswick & Son also used the name 'Aldwych China'. There doesn't appear to be any relationship between these companies and Wiltshaw & Robinson. 

(Frederick) Cuthbert Wiltshaw, the son of the founder James F Wiltshaw, lived at Estoril House, Baralston with his wife Alice. 

Sadly in 1952 Alice was murdered during a robbery where more than 3,000 worth of jewellery was stolen. 

Around 1949 adjacent house 'The Limes' became the Wedgwood Memorial College which was an education centre run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. 

At some time Estoril House was also incorporated in to the college complex. The college offered short courses in literature, language, political science, art and architectural history. It was closed in 2012. 

From 1960 to 2011  the Wedgwood Memorial College offered a week-long Esperanto summer school every year. This came about partly through the influence of Horace Barks, the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, who was an advocate of Esperanto.

From 2002 The Esperanto Association of Britain based its headquarters and library at the college.