Cobden Works, Longton

Cobden Works, Longton
High Street (in the mid 1950's renamed to Uttoxeter Road)

"The Royal Stafford China Works of Thomas Pool & Gladstone China Ltd. who specialised in producing mid priced tableware. This was originally part of the 19th Century Cobden Works. This photograph was taken from Edensor Road.

In the open space in the foreground, Pat Collins Fun Fair is being set up for Shrove Tuesday. Longton had pleasure fairs from at least 1860 on Easter, Whit, Martinmass and Shrove Tuesdays. Pat Collins, from Walsall, was one of the largest travelling fair operators. In the photograph are some of Collins' tractors, vans and electrical generators.

Much of the site now lies beneath the A50 road."

Royal Stafford China
Thomas Poole and Gladstone China Ltd

This office block is an extension to the Cobden Works - it was added sometime after the 1950 aerial photographs shown above

October 1962 - The Bert Bentley Collection
Image: Stoke-on-Trent City Archives
Staffordshire Past Track

From	To	Occupier	Comments


	1880	Johnson and Poole	The partners were John Lorenzo Johnson and Thomas Poole.
1880	c. 1925	Thomas Poole	John Lorenzo Johnson left the business and Thomas Poole continued on his own account. The trade name 'Royal Stafford' was introduced by Thomas Poole in the early 1900s. Some sources give as early as 1900 and others 1906-7.
c. 1925	1952	Thomas Poole (Longton) Ltd	Around 1925 the business was renamed 'Thomas Poole (Longton) Ltd'
1952	1980	Royal Stafford China Ltd	In 1952 Thomas Poole (Longton) Ltd was renamed to Royal Stafford China Ltd - still under the ownership of the Poole family. Royal Stafford China Ltd was sold to John Maddock & Sons Ltd. in Burslem and manufacturing moved there.

1987	Active 2024	Springfield China Limited	Springfield China Limited acquired the works, plant and machinery at Cobden Works 1987