St. Gregory's Pottery, High Street, Longton

NOTE: In 1883 there was another (unrelated) St. Gregory's works built - click for information -

"The former St. Gregory Works on the north side of High Street is said to have been established by George Barnes in 1794, and it was still in his hands c. 1800. It is probably identifiable with the works in Hog's Lane (now Sutherland Road) held by him in 1823.

Apparently in the hands of Chesworth and Blood in 1824, it was held by Wood and Blood by 1827 and by Beardmore and Birks from 1830 or 1831 until 1843. It seems then to have passed to Sampson Beardmore who in 1850 was succeeded by George Townsend.

Tams and Lowe took over the works in 1864 and were still in possession in 1874.In 1874 or 1875 William Lowe succeeded, building the Sydney Works to the rear in Sutherland Road in 1879 for the china department. The firm remained in operation until c. 1930; the St. Gregory Works has been demolished and the Sydney Works is now (1963) a textile factory"

'Longton', in A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 8, ed. J G Jenkins (London, 1963), pp. 224-246.
British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/staffs/vol8/pp224-246

"St. Gregory s Pottery.

These works, in High Street, were established in 1794 by Mr. G. Barnes, and were successively held by him and his partner Mr. Wood (under the style of Barnes & Wood), by Messrs. Wood & Blood, Mr. Chesworth ; Messrs. Beardmore & Birks, and Mr. G. Townsend, from whom they passed in 1864 to Messrs. Tarns & Lowe; they now belong to Mr. William Lowe alone.

The goods produced comprise all the usual varieties of articles in useful ordinary earthenware, and in china of an average quality. In the former, dinner, tea, toilet, and other services, &c., are made in white, sponged, printed, ground-laid, and gilt varieties; in the latter only the ordinary common classes are made, principally for the home trade. The quality of the body is firm and good, and the mosaic jugs and tea-pots, mounted and otherwise, are well formed and decorated. In these and in the reeded turquoise tea-pots, &c., the ground colours are clear and even.

The usual mark in the common willow pattern is a garter, with the words STAFFORDSHIRE IMPROVED, enclosing the name of the pattern and the Staffordshire knot; the ribbon is surmounted by a crown, and beneath are the initials of the firm, T. & L."

The Ceramic Art of Great Britain Vol II, 1878; Llewellynn Jewitt

1851 map showing the location of St. Gregory's Pottery In red) on the High Street, Longton
In the early 1950s the High Street was renamed Uttoxeter Road

Red = St. Gregory's Pottery
Blue = Castle Inn
Green = Park Place Works
Yellow = Chadwick Street

1937 showing Union Square and Commerce Street to the right and to the left Park Place Works on the High Street

Red = St. Gregory's Pottery
Blue = Castle Inn
Green = Park Place Works
Yellow = Chadwick Street

view down Uttoxeter Road (was the High Street)
on the left is the Gladstone Pottery Museum (was Park Place Works)
on the right is the building which was the Castle Inn and just past that
is the area where the St. Gregory's Pottery Works was located (now demolished)

From	To	Occupier	Comments
1794	1823	George Barnes	The former St. Gregory Works on the north side of High Street, Longton was established by George Barnes in 1794. It is probably identifiable with the works in Hog's Lane (now Sutherland Road) held by him in 1823. George & William Barnes were in partnership together. William left in 1804. George Barnes was in partnership with a Mr. Wood (as Barnes & Wood)
1824		Chesworth and Blood	The details of Chesworth / Chesworth & Blood are uncertain
	1827	Wood, Chesswas & Co Wood, Ratcliffe & Blood	The partners were Stephen Wood, Thomas Edensor Chesswas, William Ratcliffe and Thomas Blood. Chesswas left this partnership at the end of April 1827.
1827	1829	Wood and Blood	In July 1827 Ratcliffe left the business which was continued by Wood and Blood.
1830	1843	Beardmore and Birks
1843	1850	Sampson Beardmore	It was Sampson Beardmore who called the works "Old Established Pottery"
1850	1864	George Townsend	The works were recorded in trade directories as 17 High Street (which was renamed Uttoxeter Road in the early 1950s) Townsend continued the name "Old Established Pottery" From around 1862 Townsend operated from Chadwick Street and Stafford Street, Longton.
1864	1874	Tams and Lowe	Trade directory for 1868 "Tams & Lowe, High Street, Longton—Lustre, Egyptian Black, Turquoise, Cain, Sage, and Printed Ware, Stone Mortars, etc."
1874	1930	William Lowe	William Lowe built the Sydney Works to the rear in Sutherland Road in 1879 for the china department.