Manufacturers of earthenware and china at Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, England

• Following the failure of William Brownfield & Sons a co-operative pottery, the Brownfields Guild Pottery Society, was formed to continue the business. This initiative aimed to preserve the craftsmanship and employment associated with the pottery, aligning with the cooperative movement's principles of worker ownership and democratic management.

• Unfortunately the combination of an unwieldy committee of small shareholders and the poor administrative ability of Edward Arthur Brownfield resulted in the failure of the business around 1898.  A pattern (324028) was registered on the 22nd August 1898 by Wood & Bullock, T&CE, Liquidators of Brownfields, Cobridge. 

• Later in 1898 the business was in operation as Brownfields Pottery Ltd. Five patterns were registered to them between December 1898 and April 1899. 

• In 1900 part of the extensive Brownfield works was demolished for housing development, some of the land was acquired by Myott, Son & Co, in 1902 they had completed a new factory

Failure of the Brownfields Guild:

Following the collapse of the business of of William Brownfield & Sons "it was then carried on under the management of Mr. Arthur Brownfield [Edward Arthur] on a reconstructed basis, as a co-operative pottery, called the Brownfield Guild Pottery. Mr. Frederick Rhead succeeded Mt. Jahn, and became art director to this remarkable venture. 

It had all the elements of success - the finest bodies and glazes - an unexcelled business connection, and a host of well-trained and capable craftsmen; but the workmen were nearly all small shareholders, and from these a cumbrous committee, invested with extraordinary powers was selected, with Mr. Brownfield as chairman. 

As workmen, under the old system, they were honest, efficient and valuable servants; but under the "Guild" their performances were grotesque. Mr. Brownfield had delegated to them a considerable share of responsibility, and as he himself possessed very little administrative ability, the proceedings for the space of two or three years became chaotic. Such a state of things could not continue indefinitely, and the Guild was wound up about 1898, and the works demolished and sold for building purposes." - Rhead's Staffordshire Pots & Potters, p.309

Brownfields Guild Pottery

Workmans Productive Society
Brownfields Guild Pottery

the registration number 226227 shows that the pattern was registered to the Brownfields Guild Pottery Society Ltd on the 
26th January 1894 

the twin globe mark was introduced in 1871 by the previous company 
William Brownfield & Son(s)

the twin globe mark was continued in 1891 by Brownfields Guild Pottery - the clasped hands were added

some marks have the addition of the wording "Workmans Productive Society" 

the registration number 210792 shows that the pattern was registered to the Brownfields Guild Pottery Society Ltd on the 18th April 1893 

- it was not unusual that some of the ware in a set would just have the registration number, occasionally some ware had no mark at all