Staffordshire Potteries Ltd became a major British ceramics company formed by merging smaller pottery firms in the Stoke-on-Trent area. The company produced a wide range of affordable earthenware, including tableware and decorative items, catering to both domestic and international markets. Known for its diverse designs, Staffordshire Potteries managed several popular brands that reflected traditional and contemporary styles.

• Keele Street Pottery (est 1915) had been closed in 1941 under the Wartime Concentration scheme. 

• In 1946 Charles Griffiths Bowers (son of the original founder C. H. Bowers) reactivated the business and manufacturing was allowed to restart.

• Also in 1946 the Keele Street Pottery Group (K.S.P. Group) was formed and over the next few years began to acquire pottery companies which had been closed for the duration of the war (Winterton Pottery, Thomas Cone, Collingwood China). 

• In 1946 a new company, Paramount Pottery Co Ltd was established by K.S.P. Group.

• In January 1948 Charles G Bowers and G. T. Basnett registered Staffordshire Potteries Ltd (incorporated 2nd february 1948). Although it appears that manufacturing did not start until after 1951 when they began to lease redundant buildings at Meir Airport.

• In 1949 49% of shares of Keele Street Pottery Group was sold to South Western Industrial Gas and Water Corporation. 

• A 1951 advert lists: 

Keele Street Pottery Co Ltd, 

Paramount Pottery Co Ltd, 

Thos. Cone Limited, 

Conway Pottery Co Ltd 

Winterton Pottery (Longton) Ltd

 

At this time all these companies were operating from their original location. C. G. Bowers was the managing director of each company.

• During 1951 to 1955 leases were taken on redundant hangars at Stoke-on-Trent's Meir Airport - this provided the opportunity to gradually develop production on that site and by 1963 most companies operations had been located there.

• In 1955 there was a restructuring of South Western Industrial Corporation Ltd and the pottery companies in the K.S.P. Group became subsidiaries of a newly formed Staffordshire Potteries (Holdings) Ltd. 

• A 1956 advert lists 'Members of the K.S.P. Group: 

Keele Street Pottery Co Ltd, 

Paramount Pottery Co Ltd, 

Thos. Cone Limited, 

Conway Pottery Co Ltd, 

Staffordshire Potteries Ltd, 

Collingwood China Ltd, 

Chinaware Ltd 

Piccadilly Pottery Co Ltd (a wholesale company). 

The newly formed Staffordshire Potteries Ltd and Chinaware Ltd  were operating at Meir Airport - the other companies were still operating from their original location. C. G. Bowers was the managing director of each company. 

Winterton Pottery (Longton) Ltd was not listed in the advert. Later records referred to them as a non manufacturing unit of Staffordshire Potteries (Holdings) Ltd.

• By 1963 all production, sales and administration was now at Meir. The companies located around Stoke-on-Trent had either been closed or moved to Meir. 

• 1972 - establishment of the Kilncraft brand name.

• In 1979 Staffordshire Potteries (Holdings) Ltd took over Tauton Vale Industries (who had taken over the Howard pottery Group in 1974) and so Staffordshire Potteries acquired:

Royal Winton Pottery (Grimwades) Ltd

Gibson & Sons

Nofolk Pottery Co Ltd

Howard Pottery Co Ltd

Also in 1979 they acquired Salt & McKee (Toronto) which was renamed Canadian Classic Fine Bone China Ltd - part of Staffordshire Potteries (Canada) Ltd. 

• In 1986 Staffordshire Potteries (Holdings) Ltd was taken over by the Coloroll Group who were in the home furnishing business, and the various pottery companies became members of the Coloroll Ceramics Division. 

• The policy of growth by acquisition in the 1947-1949 period ensured that a wide range of goods were produced. During this period, the emphasis was on production for export. 
  
  A message (relating to the post-war effort) from the Managing Director in a company leaflet states: 

"we all know that the Nation’s first need is to manufacture for export, to enable us to earn dollars, and so purchase the raw materials essential for industry."

White utility wares were in production at some factories in the group, whilst others concentrated on decorated ware for export.

• During the 1950s Staffordshire Potteries became the largest producer of utilitarian white cups, also manufacturing blue band kitchen ware and dinner and tea wares. These cups are advertised in the trade press for 1957: 

"the demand for odd white cups is considerable and these three popular shapes [Windsor; Worcester block handle; Osborne] will satisfy most requirements. Packed in cartons of four dozen they are easily transported and stored." (Pottery & Glass May 1957)

• During the 1960s and 1970s the company continued to concentrate on the production of mugs, kitchen and dinner wares. A 1956 advert states that "The K.S.P. group of potteries produces fifty six million articles per year"

• The Kilncraft brand name was introduced in 1972 and introduced a new range of modern shapes, colours and surface decorations, such as the Bramble and Bacchus ranges. 
  This range was so successful that the name and trade mark was adopted as the corporate symbol for Staffordshire Potteries Ltd.

• In 1981 a new range of red stoneware ‘cook and serve’ dinner wares and cookwares was produced, specially designed for microwave ovens. "Designed for practical cooking and elegant serving." (Staffordshire Potteries 1982 catalogue) However, by 1983, this range described as "rustic stoneware style", had been abandoned in favour of more delicate, pastel colours and both freelance and in-house designers were being used. (Tableware International October 1982 p.14-17)

• By 1985, Staffordshire Potteries were the largest manufacturers of mugs in the world, producing over 750,000 per week, including commissioned designs for promotional and corporate purposes.

Keele Street Pottery Co Ltd

Managing director: C. G. Bowers
Sales director: G. T. Basnett

Paramount Pottery Co Ltd

Managing director: C. G. Bowers
Works manager: H. Leslie Irving

Thos Cone Ltd

Managing director: C. G. Bowers
Sales manager: F. Proctor
Decorating manager: E. M. Smith
Works manager: W. R. Warren

Conway Pottery Co Ltd

Managing director: C. G. Bowers
Works manager: G. B. Duncan

This 1951 advert shows the companies in the Keele Street Pottery group at that time.

The reference book entries do not give management details for Winterton Pottery but it can be seen that Charles Griffiths Bowers was managing director of the other four  businesses. 

1951 - became a quoted public company

Staffordshire Potteries held an official licence 
to produce ware for these summer Olympics

Staffordshire Potteries Ltd
Ironstone
Made in England 

Paramount Pottery Ltd

Thomas Cone Ltd   Alma Ware 

Meir Aerodrome had closed in the early 1970s. Staffordshire Potteries had moved all their operations to this site and Meir Park housing estate had been built.

Mollison Road, to the left and Caverswall Lane to the north can be seen on both maps.

After Staffordshire Tableware (which grew out of Staffordshire Potteries) closed in early 2000 the site was demolished and a retail park was built.