Myott, Son and Co
of Alexander Potteries, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. (1922)
of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Telephone: Hanley 2472. Cables: "Myotts, Hanley". (1929)
of Alexander Potteries, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. (1947)
Company Chronology
- 1898 - 1902 Alexander Pottery, Wolfe Street, Stoke (founder - Ashley Myott)
- 1902 - 1946 Alexander Works, Cobridge (previously Brownfields)
- 1925 bought Upper Hanley Pottery from Grimwades
- 1947 bought Crane Street Pottery, Hanley
- 1969 - 1976 bought by Interpace Corporation (USA) but name retained
- 1976 - 1989 merged with Alfred Meakin (Tunstall) to become Myott-Meakin
- 1989 - 1991 renamed Myott-Meakin Staffordshire
Company History
1898 Ashley Myott, with family backing, took over the business of George Thomas Mountford at the Alexander Works
1902 Moved to Brownfield's Works in Cobridge. He was helped by his brother, Sydney Myott, and both remained in the company management until the 1960s.
The majority of wares made by Myotts were traditional tablewares.
1922 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of High-class Semi-Porcelain and Earthenware; dinner, Tea and Toiletwares; Fancy Goods for Home and Export Markets. Specialists in Mazarine** Blue Band Dinnerware. (Stand No G.26) [1]
1929 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of High-Grade Semi-Porcelain and fine Earthenware Dinner, Tea, Toilet, and Fancy Wares, suitable for Home and all Overseas markets; also of Ironstone, China and White Granite. (Stand No. G.16) [2]
By the 1930s they were manufacturing ironstone, white granite and semi-porcelain tableware, decorated with lithographs and hand painting for both home and abroad.
Around this time, the company began to produce a large range of unusual art deco wares - vases, jugs, planters, wall pockets and so on - all brightly painted by hand. This is likely to have been a response to the success of their competitors such as Grays (with Susie Cooper wares) and Wilkinsons (with Clarice Cliff). The Myott designs are, however, anonymous. The large number of pieces surviving suggests that this was a successful change of direction. Some "art wares" were also manufactured for Goldscheider, until 1950.
1947 Advert in British Industries Fair Catalogue as Exhibiting Member of the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation of Federation House, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Composite Exhibit. (Pottery and Glassware Section - Olympia, Ground Floor, Sand No. A.1202) [3]
Myotts continued to produce tablewares and, in 1969, were taken over by the American corporation, Interpace. The new partnership extended the tableware range, introducing a new earthenware range entitled Franciscan which was manufactured and marketed in both UK and USA. It first appeared in the UK early in 1972.
It had been found to be cheaper to manufacture and export this ware from the UK base because of tariffs and other economic considerations in USA.
1976 the company merged with Alfred Meakin Ltd, who were based in Tunstall, to form Myott-Meakin Ltd.
Transfer-decorated tableware continued under the Myott-Meakin name.
1989 the name Myott-Meakin (Staffordshire) Ltd. was adopted as a result of an acquisition by Melton Modes.
1991 the company was acquired by the Churchill Group of potteries.
Note: **
- Mazarine Blue - a deep blue colour, named in honour of Cardinal Mazarin.
- There is little documentary material available on the company as factory records were lost in a 1949 fire.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1922 British Industries Fair p57
- ↑ 1929 British Industries Fair p122
- ↑ 1947 British Industries Fair Adverts 398 and 399; and p195