New Street.--Messrs. Cooper, Till, & Co. produce both earthenware and china goods of the more ordinary qualities.
Prince of Wales Pottery.—These works, in Sutherland Road, were established by Mr. Benjamin Shirley, of Bangor, in Wales, on the day of the marriage of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, March 10th, 1863, and were in honour of that event named the “Prince of Wales’ Works.” They were carried on for a time by Benjamin Shirley and Walter Freeman, under the style of “Shirley & Freeman,” late of the Sheridan Works, and on the death of the former, in 1864, Mr. Titus Hammersley became a partner with Mr. Freeman. In 1866 Edward Asbury joined the firm, which was carried on as “Hammersley, Freeman, & Co.” In 1870 Mr. Freeman retired from the concern, and the style at that time was “Hammersley & Asbury.” Since the death of Mr. Hammersley, in 1875, the works have been continued by Mr. Asbury alone, under the style of “Edward Asbury & Co.” The goods produced are china tea, coffee, dessert, and trinket services—a special feature, however, being articles bearing local views in colours, for sale at watering-places—principally for the home markets, but goods are also shipped to Australia and the United States. The mark used is the Prince of Wales’ feathers with the letters H. & A. in a garter, or A. & Co.
High Street Works.—Mr. Walter Freeman, just spoken of as a proprietor successively of the “Sheridan” and of the “Prince of Wales” Works, withdrew from the latter in 1870 and entered on this manufactory, and in these he competes successfully with many of the other houses. Mr. Freeman’s productions are confined to china, in which he produces all the usual tea, breakfast, and dessert services in great variety of style; trinket sets for toilet, and other articles, both enamelled, painted, printed, and otherwise decorated: these are made for the home, American, and Australian markets. The quality of the ware and the style of decoration are higher than the average.
New Market Works, Market Street.—These are among the oldest works in Longton. Half a century or more ago they were occupied by Messrs. Martin & Cope for the manufacture of lustre ware and china. They were succeeded by Abel Booth, and after other changes the manufactory came into the hands of Messrs. Glover, Colclough, & Townsend, who were extensively engaged for the Eastern markets. From this firm the works passed to Messrs. Skelson & Plant, and from them to the late Mr. George Copestake, sen., and from him to Messrs. Radford & Co. The productions are china tea, breakfast, and dessert services, &c., chiefly for the home trade.
Alma Works, High Street.—Messrs. Copestake & Allen produce here the ordinary services, &c., in china.