William Lowe






 Location and period of operation:

William Lowe

Longton

Feb 1875

1930

 

Earthenware, Egyptian Black and China manufacturer at the St. Gregory's Works and then at the Sydney Works (High Street & Sutherland Road), Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

  • Previously William Lowe was in partnership with John Tams at the St. Gregory's Works. The partnership ended in February 1875 and became William Lowe  and John Tams as two separate companies.

  • John Tams set up business at the Crown Pottery, Longton and William Lowe remained at the St. Gregory's Works.

  • In 1879 William Lowe built the Sydney Works to the rear in Sutherland Road for the china department.

  • William Lowe died in 1898 - the business continued under his name.

  • Around 1918 the business was taken over by Thomas C. Wild & Sons - the business continued under the William Lowe name until the closure around 1930.

Previously: Tams & Lowe

 

 

The London Gazette
16 February 1875

 
notice of the dissolution of the partnership
between John Tams & William Lowe 

 

 


Advertisement from 1875 Keates trade directory


Advertisement from 1882 Keates trade directory

courtesy of R. K .Henrywood - Staffordshire Potters 1781-1900

 

 

William Lowe
 (late Tams and Lowe)
China and Earthenware
Sydney Works, High Street and Sutherland Road, Longton

 The Pottery Gazette,  April 1st 1880

 

 


typical William Lowe cup & saucer
typical William Lowe cup & saucer

 

 

 


a printed design comprising plant runners with stylised leaves 
and flower heads which are hand painted


Rd Nr 60399
W. L.
L  

the registration number 60399 shows that the pattern was registered on the 
2nd December 1886

 

photos courtesy:  Georgina Gray

 

 

 


1837 to 1897
To commemorate the 60 years reign
of her majesty
Queen Victoria
June 20th 1897 


Made in England
W. L.
Rd Nr 290284
L  

the registration number 290284 shows that the pattern was registered on the 
15th December 1896

 

 


plate with the Willow pattern 


Staffordshire
Improved

W L
L 

c. 1875 - 1912 

this is the same style of mark used by the predecessor Tams & Lowe

 

photos courtesy:  Megan Chilcott

 

  Court China
William Lowe cup & saucer in the "EMBLEM" pattern

the registered number 618630 shows that the pattern was registered in 1913

 

 

 

   
Pair of vases and plant pot by William Lowe
the mark is 'Royal Sydney Ware'  

 

 

 

 

Marks and initials used on ware for identification:

Most marks occur with W L L and a crown

the second "L" stands for LONGTON which is the name 
of the town where the factory was located


W LOWE
LONGTON

COURT CHINA
 [crown mark]
 W L
L

c.1912+

ROYAL SYDNEY WARE

c.1915+

 


Rd Nr 60399
W. L.
L  

the registration number 60399 shows that the pattern was registered on the 
2nd December 1886


Made in England
W. L.
Rd Nr 290284
L  

the registration number 290284 shows that the pattern was registered on the 
15th December 1896


this style of mark around 1874-1912

 

 


W L
L
CROWN
W L
L


printed or impressed mark
- this mark sometimes appears without the crown mark - 

1874-1912

 


PHEASANT
China and Earthenware Manufacturer
W L
Sydney Works
Longton

'PHEASANT' is the pattern name

pre-1912 

 

 


Court China
W.L.
L.
Court China
W.L.
L.
made in England
 'KIANG' is the pattern name

Court China
Court China
 "EMBLEM" is the pattern name

the registered number 618630 shows that the pattern was registered in 1913

 

the trade name "Court China" was introduced c.1912 

 

 


Royal Sydney Ware
W. LOWE
L.

the trade name "Royal Sydney Ware" was introduced c.1915 

 



 Court China
W L
L
made in England

c.1928-30

 


 

 NOTE:
This mark is not William Lowe 
it is not old or English or French


mark with script letters "WL"
and date 1895
surrounded by laurel leaves and crown above
it it the mark of modern ware by Wong Lee

 See more details

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks