Earthenware manufacturer at the Newfield Pottery and then the Woodland Pottery, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England 

• The company was founded at the Newfield Pottery in 1880 by William Harry Grindley (principal partner). 
  Mr Turner and Mr Alfred Meakin were also involved. 

• Early adverts stated that they produced Earthenware and Ironstone China - particularly for the Canadian, United States, South American and Australian markets.

• In March 1883 Alfred Meakin left the partnership. 

• In 1891 the company moved to the Woodland Pottery, Woodland Street, Tunstall. 

• In 1908 W. H. Grindley set up a sister company - The Grindley Hotel Ware Co

• The founder, William Harry Grindley, died in 1924.

• Grindley remained open during the Second World War under the Wartime Concentration Scheme - they were permitted to produce undecorated domestic ware. They also produced canteen ware for the British armed forces. 

• In 1960 Alfred Clough Ltd purchased W. H. Grindley, who continued to trade under their own name as part of the 'Alfred Clough Group'

• In the 1960 Pottery Gazette directory the company officers are listed as:    Director & Commerical Manager  - B. Powner, Export Sales Manager - A. E. Nierinck, Home Sales Manager - F. Spooner.

• In 1978 the name of the Clough Group was changed to Grindley of Stoke (Ceramics) Ltd.  

• In 1982 W. H. Grindley, Cartwright & Edwards and other group assets were sold to the United Kingdom Provident Institution and the company became a member of the newly formed Federated Potteries Co. Ltd. 

• The assets of Federated Potteries were dispersed in 1987 and in January 1988 the management of Grindley's purchased the business and recommenced trading under the W. H. Grindley & Co. Ltd. name.

• The business had financial difficulties and 1991 saw the company in the hands of the receivers.

this pattern of flowering chrysanthemum sprays is the same style as the one
used on the serving platter shown below

although there is no makers name the registration number shows that this pattern was registered on the 18th June 1886 to W H Grindley & Co of the New Field pottery, Tunstall

the registration number 51058 shows that the pattern 'Spring'
was registered on the 18th June 1886 by 
W. H. Gindley & Co, Tunstall, New Field Pottery 
 

The use of the town name "TUNSTALL"  indicates a date prior to 1891.

The use of "ENGLAND"  indicates a date of 1891 onwards

this style of mark - 
c.1891 - 1914

c.1891 - 1925

mark incorporating the Royal Arms

photos courtesy: Chuck Baker

c.1908-20s

Ironstone China
W. H. Grindley & Co
England

c.1914-25

c.1936-54

this style of mark with the sailing ship was introduced around 1936
this example is unusual in that it has the town name TUNSTALL - probably from c.1936-40

c.1954+

mark on the saucers

this style of mark with the sailing ship was introduced around 1936 
this example is unusual in that it has the town name TUNSTALL  probably from c.1936-40

The mark shown indicates that the ware was produced for and supplied to the British Government; it was ultimately property of the Crown/Government, hence the GR-VI Cypher.

This mark is there to distinguish the piece from being normal ‘utilitarian’ ware for public sale during the period surrounding the Second World War. 

Grindley (and others) were given government contracts throughout the late 1930s and into the 1940s (WWII) and produced canteen ware - most likely for the armed services.

The year of manufacturer is generally included.

"Alfred Meakin's Newfield Pottery stood on High Street between Tunstall and Sandyford in the area known as Newfield. Just to the right of the photograph were Newfield Sidings, at the end of the Newfield Branch off the Loop Line.

Newfield Pottery was originally in the hands of William Adams, later W H Grindley and after 1930, Alfred Meakin & Co. who added it to their existing Royal Albert, Victoria and Highgate works.

The works were put up for sale in the early 1980s. Most of the site was cleared although parts of the frontages in the centre of the photograph still stand as part of Newfield Industrial Estate."

- Staffordshire Past Track

"W H Grindley's Woodland Pottery in Lower Woodland Street. The photograph was taken from Lambert Street (known as Garden Street until the 1950s). 

In the 1990's the area was redeveloped, the pottery was demolished, Lower Woodland Street disappeared and the site used for a supermarket. Washington Street, off to the right, remains. The building on the left, with the Morris Minor car parked outside, was the company offices.

W H Grindley manufactured earthenware in Tunstall from 1880 until 1991, producing ironstone china particularly for sale in North and South America and Australia."

- Staffordshire Past Track