Midwinter Pottery (England) ceramics

William Robinson Midwinter founded Midwinter Pottery,

initially named W.R. Midwinter, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent in 1910. By the late

1930s, Midwinter Pottery had grown to become one of England's largest

potteries, employing over 700 people. In the 1950s, under the direction of Roy

Midwinter, the company had become one of the foremost innovators in British

tableware production. This success was largely due to the contributions of

renowned ceramicists and designers such as Jessie Tait, Terence Conran, Hugh

Casson, John Russell, and Peter Scott who worked for the pottery.

Midwinter Pottery was also a trailblazer in creating

"accessories" for their core dinner services and tea sets. Their

sister company, Clayburn Pottery, produced items like lamp bases that could be

incorporated into a Midwinter dinner service. In the 1960s, the Spanish Garden

design, which was a hit on dinnerware and tea sets, was featured on other

articles like more... bread bins and chopping boards. However, the expenses incurred in

developing two unsuccessful new ranges weakened the company, leading to a

takeover by J. & G. Meakin in 1968. Wedgwood later acquired Meakin in 1970.

Midwinter Pottery continued to produce pottery under their brand name from

their factory until 1987.