Grove, Stark & Co

Grove & Stark






 

Location and period of operation:

Grove & Stark

Longton

1871

1884

 

Earthenware manufacturer at the Palissy Works, Chancery Lane, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England

  • From around 1853 to 1904 Richard H Grove & his son Frederick Wedgwood Grove had a number of short lived partnerships at the Palissy Works.

  • R H Grove retired and around 1871 his son Frederick Wedgwood Grove together with John Stark took over the business.

  • Originally there had been a junior partner - Edward Pearson - he retired from the business in March 1875.

  • Around 1884 John Stark left the business which was carried out by Frederick W Grove.  

 

Previously: Grove & Robinson  (1870-71)

Subsequently: F W Grove (1885-89)

 

 

 


Grove & Stark
Palissy Works, Longton, Staffordshire
manufacturer of Earthenware
for Home and Colonial Markets

 The Pottery Gazette, American and Canadian Edition, January 1st 1880

 

 

The London Gazette
30 March 1875
 


notice that Edward Pearson had retired from the business

 

 

 

 

 


Stoneware jar in the Niphon pattern
Niphon
G & S

this pattern is in the aesthetic style 

 

 

 

 


 platter in the Swallow pattern
SWALLOW
G & S

the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 20th January 1877

photos courtesy:  Skye Potesta

 

 

 


Stoneware jug in the Rosebud pattern
ROSEBUD
G & S

the registration diamond shows that the pattern was registered on the 25th September 1883

 

 

Marks & initials & used on ware for identification:

G & S

impressed or printed

 

the initials are usually in a script for, and 
sometimes the name of the pattern is included in a scroll

 

often the pattern registration diamond is included

 

majolica ware wrongly attributed to Grove & Stark 

 

   

 

Majolica ware with the impressed marks G & St / G & S had incorrectly been attributed to the English pottery Grove & Stark.

They are, in fact, the marks of Gerbing & Stephan an Austrian-Bohemian pottery manufacturer specializing in majolica and historical revival ceramics from 1861 until its bankruptcy in 1903.

Grove & Stark did not make majolica ware. 

 

 

 

 

 


The Palissy Works in 1950

 From around 1853 to 1904 Richard H Grove & his son Frederick Wedgwood Grove
 had a number of short lived partnerships at the Palissy Works.

- click for more on the Palissy Works -

 

 

1881 census:

85 Duke Street, Mason House,  Fenton
Stoke Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England

Name

birth year

   Birthplace Occupation
Frederick W. Grove abt 1848 Head London City Road, London, Middlesex, Earthenware manufacturer
Hannah P. Grove abt 1847 Wife Birmingham, Warwickshire  
Harry M. Grove abt 1875 Son Fenton, Staffordshire  
Walter F. Grove abt 1877 Son Fenton, Staffordshire  
Mabel Grove abt 1879 Daughter Fenton, Staffordshire  
Dora J. Grove abt 1880 Daughter Fenton, Staffordshire  
Letty E. Harvey abt 1864 Servant Trentham, Staffordshire Nursemaid
Mary E. Nash abt 1865 Servant Abbotts Bromley, Staffordshire, Domestic servant

 

1881 census:

Temple Street, Stoke Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England

Name

birth year

   Birthplace Occupation
John Stark abt 1816 Head Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland Earthenware manufacturer
Jessie Stark abt 1838 Wife Kirkoswald, Ayrshire, Scotland  
Sarah Turner abt 1856 Servant Newcastle, Staffordshire General Servant

 

Questions, comments, contributions:  Steve Birks

 

 


Page History:

Page created 2 Sept 2007

Updated 7 Oct 2014: 1880 advert added; 1881 census details added. 

2 April 2016: Introductory section expanded; 1875 London Gazette entry added.

7 Sept 2021: Link to the Palissy Works added; examples of earthenware added.

25 Nov 2022: Examples of majolica ware added.

25 Aug 2025: Majolica ware removed as it was wrongly attributed to Grove & Stark - actually produced by Austrian firm of Gerbing & Stephan.