Bursley Ware ceramics

From 1910 to 1982, Wood & Sons Ltd operated earthenware manufacturing at the Trent, New Wharf, and Stanley Potteries in Burslem. The company was founded in 1865 by Absalom Wood and his son T.F. Wood, members of one of the prominent pottery dynasties that date back to the origins of the Staffordshire pottery industry. Originally trading as Wood & Son, the business changed its name to Wood & Sons in approximately 1907 and was incorporated as Wood & Sons Ltd in 1910.

In 1921, T.F. Wood's son, Harry F. Wood, succeeded him as chairman, and under his management, Wood & Sons Ltd grew into a large and prosperous earthenware manufacturer. The company had several associated entities, including H.J. Wood Ltd (located at Alexandra Pottery, Burslem), Bursley Ltd (later renamed Susie Cooper Pottery Co. Ltd, located at the Crown Pottery, Burslem), and Ellgreave Pottery Co. Ltd (located more... on Ellgreave Street in Burslem).

In 1954, Wood & Sons Ltd became a public company, adopting the name Wood & Sons (Holdings) Ltd, although Wood & Sons Ltd remained the primary operating entity. However, in December 1981, the business went into receivership and was sold to members of the Yorke family, some of whom had served as board members of the failed company. The new owners traded under the name Wood & Sons (1982) Ltd until its closure in 1995.

Throughout its history, Wood & Sons Ltd and its subsidiaries produced a diverse range of well-designed, high-quality earthenware aimed at the middle market. Their products primarily included teaware, tableware, fancy earthenware, and hotelware. During the 1930s, the company also produced Ivorine China, a semi-porcelain body, and from the 1940s onwards, their "Beryl Ware" green tableware was particularly popular. Some of the company's well-known trade names include "Wood's Ware," "Bursley Ware," "Woods Ivory Ware," and "Ivorine China." less...