Minerva Works, Fenton
Park Street, Fenton. In the Lane Delph Area.
The works gets its name from "Minerva" who in the Roman religion, was the goddess of handicrafts, the professions and the arts. Her shrine on the Aventine in Rome was a meeting place for guilds of craftsmen, including at one time dramatic poets and actors.
"A works on the site of the present Minerva
Works in Park Street was in existence in the early 1760's, owned by the Broade
family and in the tenure of James Kent; the Broades were looking for a new
tenant in 1764. In 1806 or 1807 it was taken over by Miles Mason (1752-1822),
who moved there from the Victoria Works, Market Street (now King Street). His
eldest son William (1785 - c.1855) worked with him until 1811 when he started to
make earthenware at a works nearby, and when Miles retired in 1813 it was to his
other two sons, George Miles (1789-1859) and Charles James (1791-1856), that the
Minerva Works passed."
Victoria History of the County of Stafford Vol VIII.
| From | To | Occupier | Comments |
| 1806 | 1815 | Mason family | The 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. |
| 1833 | Pratt, Hassall & Gerrard | The Minerva Works was in the hands of Pratt, Hassall & Gerrard by 1827. | |
| 1833 | 1833 | Hassall & Green | c.1833 Richard Hassall was joined in partnership by Thomas Green (son of Thomas Green of the Churchyard Works, Burslem), shortly afterwards, in the same year, Hassell retired. |
| 1834 | 1847 | Green & Richards | Green brought the
works from Francis Brode in 1833 and in 1834 was joined in
partnership by Mr. W. Richards of Great Fenton. In 1847 Richards withdrew from the partnership. |
| 1847 | 1859 | Thomas Green | Thomas Green continued alone until his death in 1859. |
| 1859 | 1876 | M Green & Co | In 1859 Thomas's widow, Margaret took over running the works (with her 4 sons). In 1863, she purchased the Minerva Works which, until that time, had been leased. |
| 1876 | 1889 |
T.A. & S. Green | Following Margaret Green's death in 1876, two of her sons, Thomas Allen and Spencer, bought out their brothers and the company became T A & S Green. |
| 1889 |
1948 | Crown Staffordshire Porcelain & Co. | This company succeeded T.A. and
S. Green at the Minerva Works, Park Street, Fenton, where good quality
porcelains were produced. The business became a limited company in 1903. In the
present century some very decorative floral encrusted porcelains were made, as
were various figure, animal and bird models and miniature pieces. |
| 1948 | 1985 | The Crown Staffordshire China Co Ltd. | With the growing
demand for 'bone china' the company was renamed and began to produce only
china. In 1965 the Green family's connection with the company ceased
and the company became part of the Wedgwood Group in 1973. |
| 1985 | 2000 | Coalport | In July 1967 the Wedgwood
Group took over the pottery company of Coalport. Wedgwood moved the Coalport
brand to the
Minerva Works in 1985 and the name Crown Staffordshire ceased to be used. In 2000 Coalport moved to a purpose built unit at the Wedgwood factory in Barlaston. The Minerva Works was demolished in late 2001. |
