Robinson & Son






 

Location and period of operation:

Robinson & Son

Longton

1881

1903

 

Manufacturers of china at the Foley China Works, Foley, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

NOTE: The small district of Foley is very close to the municipal boundary between the towns of Fenton and Longton. There were six pottery factories operating in this area who used the Foley name. 

NOTE: There was another firm of the name Robinson & Son also working in Longton c.1864-69

  • The partners were William Robinson and William John Robinson. 

  • In December 1884 the Robinson partnership was dissolved and the business taken over by Elijah Brain and William Hawker. The trading name 'Robinson & Son' was retained until c.1903

 

Previously: Robinson & Co. 

Subsequently: E. Brain & Co

 

 

 


  
Established 1850 
Robinson & Son
China Manufacturers
Foley Works
Longton, Staffordshire
Home and Export 

advert from a 1892 trade directory
at this time the works were operated Elijah Brain and William Hawker. 
- the trading name 'Robinson & Son' was retained until c.1903

 

 

 

 

The London Gazette
1st October 1875



notice of dissolution of the previous partnership of 
Robinson, Chapman & Hill in Sept 1875

The London Gazette
9th January 1885



notice of dissolution of the partnership of Robinson & Son
in Dec 1884 and the continuation of the business by 
Elijah Brain and William Hawker 

 

 

 

 

 

Robinson & Son trio in Cineraria pattern   
Robinson & Son trio in the Cineraria pattern 

 

 

 


printed outline pattern with hand colouring

Robinson & Son ceased trading in 1903 and some of the Robinson patterns
were sold to Charles Waine 

 
R&S
L

Orchid is the pattern name

photos courtesy:  Heike Heidborn

 

 


cup, saucer and side plate by Robinson & Son - in a Willow pattern
cup, saucer and side plate by Robinson & Son - in a Willow pattern   

 

 

 

Marks & Initials used on ware for identification:

  • All of Robinson  & Son marks include the initials R & S L within a Stafford Knot. 

  • Some marks say "Established 1850" - The Foley China Works were originated by a Mr. Robinson in 1850. 

  • The small district of Foley is very close to the municipal boundary between the towns of Fenton and Longton. There were six pottery factories operating in this area who used the Foley name. 

  • Robinson & Son used the letter 'L' in their mark to indicate the town of Longton. 

  • Sometimes the pattern name is included. 

  • between c.1903-5 the company E. Brain & Co (successors to Robinson & Son)
    used the same mark but with the initials E B & Co

 

 

 

R & S
L

FOLEY CHINA

 

 

R & S L established 1850
 established 1850
R & S
L 

Cineraria is the pattern name  

early marks without the name 'Foley China'

 

 

 

Foley was a small district of Longton town

Est 1850
Foley China
R&S
L
Trade Mark 

Note that there were a couple of variations of the position of the 
initials R & S within the Stafford knot 

 

 

 

between c.1903-5 the company E. Brain & Co (successors to Robinson & Son)
used the same mark but with the initials E B & Co

 

  

 

Foley China Works 

 


a photo of the Foley China Works when it was operated by E Brain & Co. Ltd. 

Pottery factory exterior taken at the Foley China Works, Fenton
Photo - date unknown but pre-1978 
© Staffordshire Past Track

- click for more information on The Foley China Works -

 

 

there were  6 different companies 
operating in this area which
hade 'Foley' in their name

- click for more -

 

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks