Staffordshire China
Sutherland & Delphine
The Heart of Longton

The six towns of the Staffordshire Potteries have a history long steeped in the twists and turns of human endeavor.

The history of the Staffordshire china potteries goes back at least to 1467 when 'row coal' surface seams were being utilized for firing pottery. The area had the advantage of readily available red-burning clays and 'long flame' coal which was necessary for kiln burning. By 1740 Stoke-on-Trent was the center of pottery making in England. By 1800 Staffordshire china was the most prominent in the world. source: www.thepotteries.org

Longton is the newest of the 6 Staffordshire china towns, but became a focal point for bone china production. The early 1800's saw the first bone china porcelain production, led by Mayor John Aynsley. 1834 there were 48 bone china manufacturers. A contemporary journal described Longton as being equal to Burslem as a the heart of fine china production "... ware of great lightness and beauty was produced, fully equaling that for which Chelsea was famous. It will thus be seen that Longton deserves to rank with Burslem".

So it was that in this vibrant Staffordshire china town in 1870 William Hudson & J. H. Middleton decided to enter the bone china trade together.

As one of the few remaining bone china pot-banks to have dodged the takeover and asset stripping bullets and still going strong, I have long been fascinated by their history and tried to find out more details.

I found a write-up on H&M by one of their important stockist, the Natural History Museum, London, and here is what they had to say:

This traditional, family-owned company is one of the original Staffordshire china manufacturers and works to the highest standards of design and production.

Hudson and Middleton, founded in 1875, is one of the few remaining bone china manufacturers in England.

This Museum partner of the is one of the oldest Staffordshire china potteries in the UK, and combines traditional skills with modern technology to produce our range of mugs.

Manufacturing to the highest standards, they use skilled craftspeople who in many cases have been with the company all their working lives, handing down their expertise through the generations.

Hudson and Middleton's products sell in garden centres and high street stores in the UK, France, Russia and Hong Kong and in the Museum shop and Online shop.

Then along came Helen! Thanks to her for this great article from the 'inside'. I am sure all Staffordshire China buffs in general and Hudson and Middleton collectors in particular will appreciate her insights onto the history of the Sutherland and Delphine bone china pottery marks.

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Also joining the company was Grenville Barlow, son of Eric Hudson Barlow, whom I had always incorrectly assumed was a blood relation (in fact, I believed he was dad’s cousin) but it seems he was just called “Uncle” without being any relation (other than being my Godfather). The four men ran Hudson & Middleton until Eric Varden Chapman died in xxxx.

However, Gren, George and Eric Barlow continued to run the business until around 1972-73 when Eric Barlow became so worried about death duties should anything happen to him, that he persuaded George and Grenville to sell the business. His greatest fear was that death duties would take all the working capital out of the business.

Hudson & Middleton was sold to Pentos Holdings (Barker Ellis Silver & Co) of Birmingham and the three men worked alongside a Terry Mawr for approximately two years until they finally left the family Staffordshire china company.

KNOWN HISTORY OF CHAPMAN & MIDDLETON SIDE OF FAMILY

Chapman China (?1898-1905?)was located on Uttoxeter Road, almost opposite St James’ church and parallel to Normacot Road where Sutherland Works is situated. There is very little information to be found on this Staffordshire china company, other than the fact it existed between 1898 and 1905. If it really only existed for 7 years, it probably explains the dearth of information pertaining to it.

It seems that Chapman China became Atlas China and in fact I own some cups and saucers which have the Atlas China pottery mark with “Chapman” written across it, however, far more common is ware with the Atlas China backstamp with “Grimwades” written across it and it seems that Atlas China later became Grimwades.

D Chapman & Sons (1882-1902) was located in Longton, according to Staffordshire china expert Steve Birks of www.thepotteries.org but I can find no reference to where in Longton this was. It would seem highly likely that David Chapman (b1844-d1927) founded this company as the dates fit (he would have been 38 at the time of its inception) although originally, according to Keates Gazetteer & Directory 1873-1874, David Chapman belonged to Robinson & Chapman located in Forrister Street, Longton, a Staffordshire china company which seemed to exist for just 9 years (1872-1881).

I can find very little mention of this company at all. Judging by the dates, D Chapman & Sons existed (1882-1902), it appears it was established some 16 years prior to the inception of Chapman China (1898-1905) and ended 3 years before Chapman China finished. Therefore, I can only assume that Chapman China and D Chapman & Sons were two separate companies.

The Keates Gazetteer & Directory also noted that David Chapman resided at "Ashwood Hotel" in Wood Street, Longton where he was not a Staffordshire china potter but a Licensed Victualler although the following year the residence had dropped the “hotel” and he was no longer Licensed Victualler. Many years later he lived at Myrtle Villa, 339 Uttoxeter Rd, Blythe Bridge and in 1921 he is listed as living at The Oaks or Oak Villa, Forsbrook.

KNOWN HISTORY OF BARLOW & HUDSON SIDE OF FAMILY

William Hudson (1889-1941) According to Steve Birks of www.thepotteries.org, William Hudson operated from the Alma Works in Longton and “continued … after the partnership with Middleton ended (c.1889-1892) and then at the Sutherland Pottery (c.1892-1941).”

When William Hudson’s daughter Mary Jane Maria (possibly known as Marie) married George Edwin Barlow, he was an estate agent in Longton but eventually joined Hudson’s pottery company which was then renamed William Hudson & Co. Marie and George lived at Holmlea, Blythe Bridge. (NOTE – some contradictory evidence as Mary Jane Maria Hudson may not be the same as Marie Hudson and the residence of Holmlea may be incorrect). William Hudson also had a son but he drank himself to death – Uncle Gren & dad once found a painted signboard with William Hudson & Son printed on it: obviously William had had it painted in readiness for his son to join the firm but it was not to be.

The following extract is taken from Kelly’s Directory entry 1932 for Forsbrook with Blythe Marsh:

“The church of St. Peter, erected at a cost of about £1,950, is a building of stone in the Early Decorated style, consisting of chancel, nave, west porch and a western turret containing one bell: in 1912 the church was enlarged by the addition of a north aisle at a cost of £1,500: the stained east window is a memorial to Charles Harvey esq. of Blythe House, and there are others to the Brammall family, 1899-1903, James Marson esq. of Marsh House, and Mr. and Mrs. Scarratt: an alabaster reredos and an oak altar were erected in memory of John Aynsley esq. and oak choir stalls in memory of Marie, wife of Thomas George Barlow: in 1883 an organ chamber was erected, and an organ built in 1908 the organ was practically rebuilt at a cost of £250: an organ case has since been erected as a memorial to William Hudson esq”.

It is not known if either Marie or William Hudson are relatives.

Hudson & Middleton The original Staffordshire china company was formed in 1870, was called Middleton & Hudson and was located at the Alma Works in Longton. In 1889 the two partners split, with J H Middleton establishing Delphine Pottery in Chelson Street, Longton and William Hudson establishing Sutherland Pottery in Normacot.

When I spoke for a second time to Uncle Gren, he had been going through some old papers and had found a piece of letter headed paper which read thus:

It is not known the date of this letterhead but it is interesting that Hudson and Barlow are listed as being partners in JH Middleton & Co.

This extract is taken from the patent for the teapot: “A teapot a is formed with an upstanding flange d and an inner projecting rim e, and is provided with a cylindrical perforated infuser b, the upper part of which rests on the flange d, which engages a groove on the flange j of the infuser. When the infuser b is removed, the lid c rests on the rim.” See here:- www.wikipatents.com for the full patent.

In 1941 the Government commandeered J H Middleton’s Staffordshire china factory to store WW2 munitions so the two companies joined forces once more to become Hudson & Middleton at Sutherland Pottery. After the war, Uncle Gren believes that J H M opened again for a short time but after a time it was decided that, as the smaller Staffordshire china factory, it should be closed and JHM should join forces with Hudson permanently at Sutherland Works. Both Delphine and Sutherland pottery marks were retained and an H & M china mark also used.

Family Connections EXPLAINED

HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO HUDSON & MIDDLETON

Taken from the Gladstone Staffordshire china Pottery Museum Photographic Collection.

This photograph is part of the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire china Museums.

It shows the typical Staffordshire china Jiggering Workshop and although the picture includes the caption "Jolliers Making Saucers and Plates", this process is normally known as jiggering.




The jiggerers are making plates and saucers and the mould-runners are supplying them with moulds. The plates and saucers are being made on a jigger. A flat piece of clay is placed on the rotating mould and a levered profile tool is brought down upon it. The mould shapes the eating surface of the plate as the profile tool shapes the reverse.

These Staffordshire china machines were semi-automatic. The rotation of the wheel is powered but the levering arm for the profile tool is manual.

The picture shows Staffordshire china factory interior showing a female pottery worker gilding or banding at a bench. Two onlookers pose for the picture.

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