• About 1884 Edgar H. Lawley founded a jewellery retail business in Birmingham.

• 1908 - the first of Lawleys china and glassware shops was opened - "considerable expansion took place so that at the outbreak of war in 1939 retail branches had been established in many of the larger provincial towns from Dundee to Penzance"

Lawleys (1921) Ltd

• In 1921 the business was incorporated as Lawleys (1921) Ltd.

• 1929 - Edgar Lawley's sons Thomas H. and Edgar E. Lawley were appointed as joint managing directors and the company was renamed Lawleys Ltd.

• In February 1929 it was announced that the London retailer, Phillips' name had been acquired by the Lawley Group. The business was styled as "Lawleys of Regent St. incorporating Phillips's of Bond St." (London Evening News) - ware was sold with a Lawleys/Philips mark at least into the late 1960s.

Lawleys Ltd

• The two brothers ran the retail business together until 1936 when Edgar purchased his brother's shareholding and Thomas left to develop interests in pottery manufacture. 

• Lawleys Ltd continued under the direction of Edgar E. Lawley and at the end of the Second World War acquired the assets of a number of pottery companies that had closed under the wartime concentration scheme. 

• Between 1945 and 1947 five factories were re-opened to service the Lawleys retail shops, including..

  • Adderleys Ltd - Daisy Bank Pottery

  • The Adderley Teapot Works

  • Barlows (Longton) Ltd - Melbourne Works

  • Hughes (Fenton) Ltd

• The Lawley-controlled companies were known collectively as the 'Adderley Group'

Lawleys Group Ltd

• In 1948 Edgar Lawley established a new company 'Lawley Group Ltd' to reorganise and recapitalise the Lawleys Ltd business. 

• Further pottery businesses were acquired and by 1949 the Lawley Group owned or controlled...

  • Adderleys Ltd

  • Barlows (Longton) Ltd

  • the Garfield Pottery

  • Hughes (Fenton) Ltd

  • Dean's Pottery

  • the Globe Pottery Co (Longton) Ltd

  •  Ridgways (Bedford Works) Ltd

  • the North Staffordshire Pottery Co Ltd

  • the Portland Pottery

• The Floral China Co Ltd (to become Adderley Floral China Works) was acquied in 1949 and the Stirling Pottery in 1950.

• In 1951 the Lawley Group was acquired by Whitehall Secutities Corporation, an associate of the Pearson Group and the owner of Booths and Colclough Ltd. 

• In 1953 the administration of the two pottery groups were combined and a new Lawley Group Ltd subsidiary - Ridgway and Adderleys Ltd - was formed to manage the Lawley Group's pottery holdings. 

• In 1955 Ridgway and Adderleys Ltd and Booths and Colclough Ltd were amalgamated as Ridgway Potteries Ltd - still a subsidiary of the Lawley Group.

• 1959 - Swinnertons Ltd and its subsidiary Alcock, Lindley & Bloore Ltd were acquired.

• 1964 - Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Co Ltd was acquired.

Allied English Potteries Ltd

• Also in 1964 the Pearson Group, the Lawley Group's ultimate owner, purchased Thomas C. Wild & Sons Ltd and the Lawley Group was renamed Allied English Potteries Ltd with Ridgway Potteries Ltd, Royal Crown Derby Ltd and Thomas Wild & Sons Ltd as independently operating subsidiaries. 

• From June 1964 the much enlarged Lawley Group changed its name to Allied English Potteries. Although the LAWLEY name continued to appear on some ware.

• Allied English Potteries Ltd's manufacturing subsidiaries included..

  • Ridgway Potteries Ltd.

  • Swinnertons Ltd.

  • Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Co. Ltd.

  • Thomas C. Wild & Sons Ltd.

    (plus all the subsidiaries of these companies)

  • Shelley China was acquired in 1966

• In 1966 the businesses of Shore & Coggins Ltd and Chapmans (Longton) Ltd - both subsidiaries of Thomas C. Wild and Sons Ltd - were closed to allow expansion of the Royal Albert and Paragon brands.

• In November 1971 the Pearson Group purchased Doulton & Co. Ltd ('Royal Doulton') and in the consequent restructuring of ownership and shareholdings, Allied English Potteries Ltd became a subsidiary of Royal Doulton.

• From the 1st January 1973 the many Allied English Potteries businesses came under the banner of Royal Roulton Tableware Ltd. 

Sources:

courtesy of... Michael Perry 'A Handbook of British Pottery Manufacturers 1900-2010' 

Times Newspaper announcement - 16th September 1948

Philips 

Phillips were London retailers of china and glass ware - their advertisements state that they were established in 1760. They were retailers of Staffordshire pottery, amongst others. 

In February 1929 the Phillips name was acquired by Lawleys and some ware produced in the Lawley Group was sold with a Lawleys/Philips mark.

   
Lawleys
Regent Street
Philips's
Estd
1760 

- more on Phillips -

The purpose of this announcement in the Times newspaper was to provide detailed information to potential investors regarding the formation, history, and business operations of The Lawley Group Limited. 

The document is a copy of a letter referenced in an "Offer for Sale" by Messrs. Myers & Co., likely part of a prospectus or admission document issued when the company went public.

The goal was to inform the public so they could make an informed decision about whether to purchase shares in the newly structured public company.

"The following is a copy of a letter which has been received by Messrs. Myers & Co. from Mr. Edgar E. Lawley and Mr. Thos. H. Lawley:

11th September, 1948.

GENTLEMEN,—The Lawley Group Limited (below called "the Company") was incorporated as a Private Company on 20th April, 1948, with a Share Capital of £400,000, divided into 150,000 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each and 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 5s. each.

On 13th July, 1948, the Company was converted into a Public Company and its Capital was increased to its present figure by the creation of 150,000 additional 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each and 600,000 additional Ordinary Shares of 5s. each. Forthwith thereafter, for the purpose of effecting an amalgamation of the Group of Companies controlled by Edgar E. Lawley with that controlled by his brother, Thos. H. Lawley, the Company acquired under Contracts Nos. 1, 2 and 3 set out in your Offer for Sale, in exchange for the issue credited as fully paid up of 200,000 Preference and 1,600,000 Ordinary Shares in its own capital, plus the sum of £15,000 payable in cash, the following Shares in the following Companies, namely:—

  Lawleys Limited (a Public Company incorporated in England on 1st February, 1921), 20,000 6 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each and 73,672 Ordinary Shares of £1 each all fully paid and 

  The T. H. Lawley Investment Corporation, Limited (a Private Company incorporated in England on 29th March, 1947), 93,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 each fully paid, being the entire issued Share Capitals of those Companies, and 

  Lawley Hotel Supplies Limited (a Private Company incorporated in England on 13th August, 1927), 7 of the 8 Shares of 1s. each issued and fully paid. 

Lawleys Limited and The T. H. Lawley Investment Corporation, Limited respectively own the entire issued share Capitals of the other Companies (except Lawley Hotel Supplies Limited), all of which are Private Companies and were incorporated in the United Kingdom, which are listed in paragraph 1 of the Auditors' Report below.

DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY.—The Companies which are listed in the Auditors' Report (below called "the Group") carry on between them the business of specialist multiple retail distribution of china and glass; the manufacture of high-grade china, earthenware and tiles; a wholesale distribution business and an export and import trade. The Group comprises nine freehold potteries, seven of which are fully engaged in the manufacture of earthenware and two in the production of china. It also comprises four wholesale distributing Companies and 50 retail shops.

Retail Business.—The retail business was founded by us in Birmingham in 1908. Thereafter considerable expansion took place, so that at the outbreak of war in 1939 retail branches had been established in many of the larger Provincial towns from Dundee to Penzance.

Manufacturing.—The manufacturing side of the Pottery industry was entered shortly after the beginning of the war. In 1940 the entire issued share capital of The North Staffordshire Pottery Company Limited was acquired by Thos. H. Lawley, and early in 1941 interests in The Globe Pottery Company Limited and Ridgways (Bedford Works) Limited were acquired by Lawleys Limited and Edgar E. Lawley joined the Boards of those Companies. The remainder of the issued capitals of The Globe Pottery Company Limited and Ridgways (Bedford Works) Limited were acquired for cash in February, 1948. Acquisitions of shares in other Pottery Companies took place between 1944 and 1946 with the result that the Group now includes the ten Pottery Companies listed in the Auditors' Report below.

Production is at present primarily for the export markets, and it is anticipated that eventually the Group's contribution to the export trade will be not less than 10 per cent. of the country's total exports of china and earthenware. Agencies have been established in most overseas markets and demand for the Group's products greatly exceeds output. Under present restrictions, with the exception of a small percentage of decorated export rejects, white ware only may be sold for home consumption and the full demands from the retail branches and from wholesale customers cannot be met.

Wholesale Distribution.—The Group's wholesale business is conducted through T. H. Lawley & Co., Limited, Thomas Jarvis (Wholesale) Limited and Lawley Hotel Supplies Limited. These Companies supply Retail Distributors and Wholesale Consumers such as Hotels and Railways.
Before the war a considerable import trade was conducted by The British American Glass Company Limited, which imported pottery and glass from continental sources. It is intended that, when Government regulations permit, this side of the business, which at present is restricted, will be enlarged.

General.—Within the present limitations on building, every effort is being directed towards modernising the Pottery Companies' manufacturing facilities so as to increase the economical production of good class ware at competitive prices. The Group is one of the largest pottery manufacturers in the United Kingdom and, together with its retail and wholesale distribution organisations, is one of the biggest groups in the china and glass trade throughout the world.

Management.—Throughout the whole development period the several businesses within the Group have been under our direct personal management, either individually or jointly. We both have a wide experience of retail and wholesale distribution and of export requirements, and practical experience of production. In addition, on the production side, there is a fully qualified team of Works Managers and Dr. Alexander Scott, who is a leading consultant in the industry is a Director of five of the Pottery Companies. We have agreed to serve the Company as Joint Managing Directors for a period of not less than three years.

AUDITORS' REPORT.—The following is a copy of a Report which has been received from the Auditors of the Company:—

14, GEORGE STREET, MANSION HOUSE, LONDON, E.C.4. 10th September, 1948.

The Directors, THE LAWLEY GROUP LIMITED, 30, PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON, W.1.

 GENTLEMEN,—1. In connection with the acquisition by your Company of the whole of the share capital of Lawleys Limited and 87½ per cent. of the share capital of Lawley Hotel Supplies Limited (which, with the former's subsidiary companies, are referred to as the E. E. Lawley group) and the whole of the share capital of The T. H. Lawley Investment Corporation, Limited (which, with its subsidiary companies, is referred to as the T. H. Lawley group) we have examined the accounts of the following companies audited by their respective auditors for the ten years or shorter periods shown."

E. E. LAWLEY GROUP—Wholesale and Retail Trading Companies-

Date of Incorporation

Lawley Hotel Supplies Limited

13th Aug., 1927

Lawleys Limited (and its subsidiaries)

1st Feb., 1921

Thomas Jarvis (Wholesale) Limited

16th June, 1933

T. P. & M. Nicholls (Western) Limited

11th Jan., 1944

Herbert West (Brentwood) Limited

24th Oct., 1944

Pottery Companies-

Adderleys Limited

19th June, 1905

Barlows (Longton), Limited

8th Dec., 1919

Thomas Dean & Sons, Limited

7th April, 1934

Garfield Pottery Limited

29th Oct., 1945

The Globe Pottery Company Limited

11th Aug., 1913

Ridgways (Bedford Works), Limited

4th April, 1934

Hughes (Fenton) Limited

11th Nov., 1939

T. H. LAWLEY GROUP—Wholesale and Retail Trading Companies-

Date of Incorporation

The T. H. Lawley Investment Corporation, Limited (and its subsidiaries)

29th March, 1947

T. H. Lawley & Co., Limited

18th Feb., 1937

The British American Glass Company Limited

9th Nov., 1909

T. H. L. Plastics, Limited

30th July, 1943

Pottery Companies-

Melba China Co., Limited

6th Sept., 1946

The North Staffordshire Pottery Company Limited

13th June, 1940

The Portland Pottery, Limited

22nd Nov., 1945