Histories of UK potters and pottery manufacturers

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Image courtesy of Lema Publishing Ltd, publishers of ‘Tableware International’ www.tablewareinternational.com

Last updated: 1st August 2011

WOOD & SONS LTD

1910–1982 (Inc. 1910)

Manufacturer of earthenware at the Trent, New Wharf and Stanley Potteries, Burslem.

The Wood & Sons business was established in 1865 by Absalom Wood and his son T. F. Wood. The business traded first as Wood & Son, then as Wood & Sons (from c.1907) and was incorporated as Wood & Sons Ltd, in 1910. Mr Harry F. Wood succeeded his father, T. F. Wood, as chairman in 1921 and under his management Wood & Sons Ltd became a large and successful earthenware manufacturer. Associated companies included H. J. Wood Ltd (at the Alexandra Pottery, Burslem), Bursley Ltd (later renamed Susie Cooper Pottery Co. Ltd, at the Crown Pottery, Burslem) and the Ellgreave Pottery Co. Ltd (Ellgreave St, Burslem).

The business became a public company in 1954 under the style Wood & Sons (Holdings) Ltd, although Wood & Sons Ltd continued as the main operating company. The business went into receivership in December 1981 and was sold to members of the Yorke family (some of whom were Board members of the failed company). Under its new owners the business traded as Wood & Sons (1982) Ltd until its closure in 1995.

Wood & Sons Ltd and its subsidiaries produced a vast array of well designed, good quality earthenware for the middle market. The company produced mainly teaware, tableware, fancy earthenware and hotelware. Ivorine China, a semi-porcelain body, was produced in the 1930s and from the 1940s ‘Beryl Ware’—tableware in a green coloured body—was popular. Trade names included ‘Wood’s Ware’, ‘Bursley Ware’, ‘Woods Ivory Ware’ and ‘Ivorine China’.

 

© Mike Perry 2010

 

Wood & Sons trio

This  ‘Yvonne’ art deco styled trio from the 1930s is in Wood’s Ivorine China body. Ivorine China was the name of Wood’s fine, thinly potted earthenware.

Image: © Michael Perry 2010