Manufacture of earthenware at the Dresden works, Tinkersclough, in the Shelton area of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England

• Formerly Lancaster & Barker - the partners were Frederick John Lancaster, Emily Lancaster and Edward John Barker.

• When the partnership of Lancaster & Barker was dissolved in July 1899 the business was continued by Frederick John Lancaster.

• In 1906 the business was renamed to Lancaster & Sons (Hanley) Ltd.  

• In 1921 the directors were listed as E. Lancaster and T H Lancaster. 

• In 1941 Lancaster & Sons (Hanley) Ltd were designated as a 'Nucleus Firm' under the Wartime Concentration Scheme and were permitted to continue production of designated utility ware. 

• At sometime Mr. T. H. Sandland joined the business as a co-director with Edwin Lancaster. 

• In 1944 the business was renamed to Lancaster & Sandland Ltd. 

Toft Ware

Thomas Toft (from whom Messrs. Lancaster and Sons (Hanley) Ltd., derive the name Toft Ware) had about 1660, a pottery on the actual site of their factory at Tinkersclough. 
Toft Ware is not an imitative reproduction of Toft's pieces, but is made by exactly the same method ; the pattern being produced by the application of "slip" or liquid clay, just as Thomas Toft made his quaint old pots at Tinkersclough.  

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