• Over 1500 pottery firms have operated in Stoke-on-Trent since the early 1700's - Some lasted only a few years and some for well over 200 years. 

• Some potters built and owned their own works. Many others were tenants in works built by others and a succession of potters occupied the same works. It was also a common practice for a works to be split between two different pottery companies or for a larger manufacturer to let out a smaller section of his works to a potter who would make ware which was not of interest to the potworks owner.

• Some potters purchased 'blanks' from other manufacturers and put their own decoration on them - some of the ware has two backstamps.

All this adds to the happy confusion  when trying to trace details of a particular manufacturer.