James Broadhurst & Sons






 

Location and period of operation:

James Broadhurst & Sons

Fenton

1897 

1984

 

James Broadhurst & Sons, earthenware manufacturers at the Portland Pottery works, Frederick Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

 

Formerly:  James Broadhurst

Subsequently: In 1984 James Broadhurst & Sons became Churchill Tableware Ltd 

 

Initials and marks used on ware for identification:


 

\
Jas Broadhurst & Sons Ltd  England
printed mark in use from 1957 onward

 

 

Broadhurst
Broadhurst England
printed mark in use from 1961 onward

JAMBOREE is the pattern name 

 

 

 


advert for James Broadhurst & Sons (1939) Ltd
advert for James Broadhurst & Sons (1939) Ltd
from April 1953 Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review

 


 

Kathie Winkle - pottery designer

Kathie Winkle began her pottery career at Shorter and Son, Stoke-on-Trent, where she was trained as a paintress. 

She joined James Broadhurst & Sons Ltd., Portland Pottery, Fenton around 1950, initially as a paintress, but by 1958 she was producing her own designs. She soon became responsible for all Broadhurst’s pattern designs from then until the mid 1970s. The removal of post-war restrictions on the designers created a demand for new styles of kitchenware and Broadhursts were able to use Kathie Winkle’s ideas to meet this new market.

All designs from the late 1950s were printed on the ware by semi-automatic rubber stamping machines. The designs comprised two parts - an outline in black created by the stamping process with bright colours then hand painted in the spaces before the wares were glazed. The new geometric patterns were a clear departure from the more usual floral motifs found on tablewares.

During her time as a designer Kathie Winkle produced over 100 patterns. The shapes of the ware did not change. Simple forms proved a more suitable background for frequent pattern changes. It was also much cheaper to change the surface pattern rather than the shape of the pot and so a standard shape range was used. In addition, only a small number of colours, usually three or less, were used on each piece to reduce the cost of production. The fewer the strokes of a paintress’s pencil (brush), the better.

During the 1950s and 1960s it was particularly fashionable to create a co-ordinated interior design. Ceramics, textiles and wallpaper often matched. For a short period there were some boxed sets of ‘Kathie Winkle’ designs on pottery, complete with matching table linen.

However, as machine decorating techniques began to take over from hand painting in the mid 1970s, Kathie Winkle stopped designing and her patterns were slowly being phased out, although older designs continued in production. In 1978 she became a quality control manageress within the company. She retired in 1992.

Her name appears on the backstamp from 1964 and became the registered trademark for Broadhursts’ wares. It was also used from then on any pre-Winkle designs which were re-issued. This backstamp was used until around 1978 when she changed role within the company.

Stoke-on-Trent museums

 


plate in the Jamboree pattern by Kathie Winkle
plate in the Jamboree pattern by Kathie Winkle
design from c.1960

 


 

The above information may not be available
for all potters - if you have information to
help complete the records then I would be
happy to include it.

email: Steve Birks