H J Colclough






 

Location and period of operation:

H J Colclough

Longton

1897

1937

 

China and earthenware manufacturer at the Vale Works, Goddard Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

  • Herbert Joseph Colclough started business in 1897 and around 1907 moved to the Vale Works in Goddard Street, Longton. 

  • In 1913 King George V and Queen Mary visited the Vale Works and the company received a royal licence and 'Royal Vale' was adopted as a trade name. 

  • In 1937 the businesses of H J Colclough, Thomas Morris and Osborne China Co. were combined and became Colclough China Ltd. 

Subsequently: Colclough China Ltd (1937-48)

 


 

 


Golliwoggs at the seaside

design based on one of the Florence Kate Upton books
showing the typical "penny wooden" dolls featured in her stories
unusually the golliwogg characters are white face


ROYAL "VALE" CHINA
H J C
Longton
England

c. 1908-28

 

photos courtesy: Graham Marshall 

 


 

 


deco style trio

c.1928-37 


 

 


deco style trio - pattern number 4059

c.1935-37 


Colclough
Longton
England
Bone China 

photos courtesy: Margaret Waller 

 


 

 

Marks & initials used on ware for identification:

 

H J C
L

[these initials used on various marks]
["L" stands for Longton - the town where the factory was situated]


ROYAL VALE CHINA
HJC
LONGTON


[CROWN ABOVE]
VALE CHINA
MADE IN ENGLAND
H J COLCLOUGH
LONGTON

printed mark 1927-37


COLCLOUGH
LONGTON
ENGLAND
BONE CHINA

printed mark 1935-37




H J C
L
England

c.1908-28



Eastern Vale
China
H J C
England

mark used on children's tea set


 


Vale China
Made in England
H J Colclough
Longton

Vale China
British Made
H
J C
L


Vale China
British Made
H
J C
L

'Rainbow' is the pattern name 

"L" stands for Longton - the town where the factory was situated

c.1928-37

 


 


ROYAL VALE CHINA
H J C
LONGTON
ENGLAND

1928-37

NOTE: There is a similar mark to this dated 1913-28
which is same layout with more elaborate and clearer
flags, crown and centre detail.

NOTE: This mark was continued by the new company
Colclough China Ltd between 1937-39


 

plate - pattern number: 3702
plate - pattern number: 3702

 

 

 

 

 

  the cups of a 21 piece tea set 
has the mark  ROYAL VALE CHINA


however the plates etc also have the mark H H & G Ltd
all of them are the same pattern and all are marked No 3702


H H & G Ltd - Hales, Hancock & Godwin Ltd  
who were not pottery manufacturers but were agents and retailers who retailed ware made by a number of manufacturers

 


Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks