Victoria Square, Fenton - on the right is the works of Masons Ironstone China

Victoria Square, Fenton - on the right is the works of Masons Ironstone China
Victoria Square, Fenton - on the right is the works of Masons Ironstone China
photo: c.1915

The Mason family were producers of the famous 'Patent Ironstone China'
- In 1815 George Miles Mason & Charles James Mason moved to the works in what is now Victoria Place.

On the left are houses built by William Meath Baker built.
There was a public urinal in the square
In the centre of the picture is a drinking fountain presented by William Baker

The Masons of Lane Delph

A family of potters trading under various styles at Lane Delph and Fenton from c.1800 to c.1854.

Charles James Mason patented the famous 'PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA' in 1813

The Mason patterns, moulds, etc., passed through several firms to Messrs. G L Ashworth & Bros in 1861. This firm was renamed 'Mason's Ironstone China Ltd' in 1968.

Miles Mason 1752-1822

Miles was born at Dent in Yorkshire. He began his successful career as a glass manufacturer and china dealer, then he started to make pottery at Liverpool and then in Staffordshire, moving to the Minerva Works in Fenton.
In 1813 he handed the business over to his two sons George and Charles James. It was Charles James Mason who invented 'Ironstone'.
In 1815 when the lease with Josiah Spode expired they moved to what is now Victoria Place, there they began to manufacture ironstone.

George Miles Mason

He retired in 1829 and purchased Wetley Abbey in 1832. Here he devoted himself to literature and painting.
The estate originally belonged to William Adams a famous potter of Tunstall (whose name and factory are now owned by Wedgwood.)

Extract from 1878 OS map - the Victoria Square area of Fenton
Extract from 1878 OS map - the Victoria Square area of Fenton

The road running across the map left to right was 'High Street East' (now City Road) which is the main road from Stoke, through Fenton to Longton.
At the right hand side this road is joined by what became Victoria Road at the junction 'Victoria Square'

Features of interest are Fenton House at the bottom of the map and the pottery and tile works either side of High Street East these are the home and works of William Meath Baker

Extract from 1924 OS map - the Victoria Square area of Fenton

The road running across the map left to right was 'High Street East' (now City Road) which is the main road from Stoke, through Fenton to Longton.

Victoria Place is now laid out as are the streets and houses around the potworks.

contents: 2009 photos