From the late 1960s/1970s onward the Spode Stoke works passed through a number of ownership and structural changes as the UK ceramics industry consolidated. 

The period from about 1966–2008 is described by the Spode Museum Trust as one of repeated ownership changes and reorganisations.

Carborundum Co. Ltd  1966-78

• In 1966 the Copeland family sold the business which was acquired by the Carborundum Co. Ltd. Spencer Copeland was in charge of the business at the time of the sale. 

  • Richard Spencer Charles Copeland, b.1918 d.2002 had joined the family of W. T. Copeland & Son after the Second World War. He was managing director from 1956 to 1966. (The Telegraph - obituary 8 April 2002, [Online], retrieved 7 Oct 2025). 

• The business continued to trade as W.T. Copeland & Sons Ltd.

• In 1970 the name was changed to Spode Ltd as a branding move to reflect 200 years of the business started by Josiah Spode I in 1770. 

• "In 1976 Carborundum merged its Tableware Division, (which included Spode Ltd, Hammersley China Ltd and the Royal Windsor Pottery) with the tableware business of Royal Worcester Ltd to form a new jointly owned company Royal Worcester Spode Ltd." (Company No 597983 - 16 Nov 1983 'Memorandum and Articles of Association').
  
  

Royal Worcester Spode Ltd  1978-2007

• In 1978 Carborundum sold its shares to Royal Worcester Ltd and they became the sole owner of Royal Worcester Spode Ltd. Both 'Spode' and 'Royal Worcester' continued to trade as subsidiaries of the parent company. 

• In 1987 Spode established the Spode Museum Trust and "donated its entire collection and archive in order to protect it in perpetuity against possible future changes in factory ownership or commercial fortunes".

• In November 1988 the patent company, Royal Worcester Spode Ltd changed its name to The Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd (597983 - 31 Oct 1988 ' Company name change..)

• In July 2007, following a number of years of losses the Spode factory was closed. In November 2008 an administrator was appointed for the Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd. and the company entered into voluntary liquidation. 

Portmeirion Potteries  2009-

• In April 2009 Portmeirion Potteries Ltd acquired the intellectual property and trade names of Spode and Royal Worcester from the Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd. (in administration). 
  The purchase did not include the respective factories. 

• Manufacturing was consolidated at Portmeirion works in London Road, Stoke. (Company No 417484 - 31 Oct 2009 'Full accounts made up to 31 December 2008).  
  
  

Spode
Felspar Porcelain 

Made in England 

England 

In 1821 Josiah Spode II introduced a variety of bone china with an addition of Felspar which created a stronger, brighter body - ideal for dinnerware

The Spode name in script was introduced and used 1821-33

This style was used as the basis for the new logo introduced in 1970.

In 1970 the name was changed from W. T. Copeland & Sons to Spode Ltd as a branding move to reflect 200 years of the business started by Josiah Spode I in 1770. 

"The designer, John Sutherland-Hawes, was commissioned to produce a new logo to mark the bicentenary of the company in 1970... His brief was to present a uniform image of excellence. Taking inspiration from the early 19th century red painted Spode marks plus later printed adaptations he produced the 'Gothic' style logo in red which became world famous."  Spode History 

This mark incorporates a letter 'C' in a square seal. 
it is a reference to a style of Copeland mark introduced c.1883 and continued in various forms to around 1910

Spode packaging incorporating the Royal Arms 'by appointment' to HM Queen Elizabeth II
Spode - Established 1770
Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent  

Copeland and Garrett

For comparison - original crown and laurel mark introduced by Copeland & Garrett  

1833-1847

Copeland and Garrett
Made in England
©1997

Copeland and Garrett
Made in England
©2000
A Spode Company

Copeland and Garrett
A Spode Company
Dishwasher Safe
Microwave Safe
©2007

this mark without "Made in England" shows that the ware was made in the Far East. 

Around 1997 Spode Ltd introduced a reproduction of the Copeland & Garrett mark as a part of a marketing campaign, although the ware was newly designed and not reflective of the original.

In 2007, when the business was in financial difficulties, most of Spode’s manufacture was outsourced to the Far East. Ware without the "Made in England" mark was made abroad. 

Spode mark in the typeface 
 introduced in 1970

1970 - 2009  

Spode mark in the typeface 
introduced when Spode became part of the Portmeirion Group 

2009+  

lithograph transfer of 'Made in Stoke-on-Trent' mark, before firing 

(photo acknowledgement: 
Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)

Entrance to Spode Pottery Works, Stoke showing the scroll used in the new logo

photo: 2009

In June 2025 a new logo & backstamp was launched - the mark incorporates the scroll sitting atop the sign to the entrance to the original Spode works in Church Street, Stoke.

The "Made in Stoke-on-Trent" mark will be used first on a limited-edition mug in Spode’s best-selling ‘Blue Italian’ range before starting to transition onto key products during the second half of the 2025.

Sources: 

Copeland, Robert (1993) 'Spode & Copeland Marks and other relevant Intelligence' Studio Vista, London.

Spode History Online 

Spode History Blog Spot