The Explore
This was the second of our ‘potteries road trip’ and was an interesting example of a medium sized ceramics firm when compared with the mighty Shires up the road. The works was littered with boxes and stacks of mugs, in various states of production and in a whole spectrum of colours, shapes and sizes. The Crown Works was relative small, but boasted 5 kilns and was also the main shop for the Tams Group up until 2006
History
The Crown Works on the corner of Commerce St was founded by John Goodwin in 1841 who occupied the site until 1851. John Tams founded his company in 1874, after splitting from his business partner William Lowe formerly of ‘Tams & Lowe’ and purchased the ‘Crown Works’ in 1875. In 1903 the company became John Tams & Sons, and ‘John Tams Ltd’ in 1912. The Factory originally had 3 bottle kilns, no of which survive today.
‘John Tams’ went into receivership in 2000, but was bought out by the management who formed ‘Tams Group Ltd’, who purchaced the rights to Royal Grafton and Grafton Limited and in 2002 across a total of 4 factories was the biggest ceramic employer in Longton, and one of the biggest mugs manufacturer in Europe. In 2006 the group went into receivership and the Crown Works finally closed, ending over 160years of ceramic manufacturing on the site.
Regards,
This was the second of our ‘potteries road trip’ and was an interesting example of a medium sized ceramics firm when compared with the mighty Shires up the road. The works was littered with boxes and stacks of mugs, in various states of production and in a whole spectrum of colours, shapes and sizes. The Crown Works was relative small, but boasted 5 kilns and was also the main shop for the Tams Group up until 2006
History
The Crown Works on the corner of Commerce St was founded by John Goodwin in 1841 who occupied the site until 1851. John Tams founded his company in 1874, after splitting from his business partner William Lowe formerly of ‘Tams & Lowe’ and purchased the ‘Crown Works’ in 1875. In 1903 the company became John Tams & Sons, and ‘John Tams Ltd’ in 1912. The Factory originally had 3 bottle kilns, no of which survive today.
‘John Tams’ went into receivership in 2000, but was bought out by the management who formed ‘Tams Group Ltd’, who purchaced the rights to Royal Grafton and Grafton Limited and in 2002 across a total of 4 factories was the biggest ceramic employer in Longton, and one of the biggest mugs manufacturer in Europe. In 2006 the group went into receivership and the Crown Works finally closed, ending over 160years of ceramic manufacturing on the site.
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Regards,
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