History of the Factory

• 1802 Boulton and Watt 10 HP rotative steam engine installed.  Spode III loses an arm in an accident whilst inspecting it and retires.
• 1805 William Spode and William Copeland become equal partners in the London business.  Henry Daniel sets up a decorating department to contract to Spode.
• 1806 The Prince of Wales appoints Josiah Spode “Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to His Royal Highness” following his visit to the factory in September.
• 1813 Stone China body developed to create replacements for Chinese porcelain.
• 1821 Felspar porcelain introduced.
• 1822 New Stone introduced.  Henry Daniel leaves to set up his own factory.  Underglaze transfer printing in colours other than blue introduced, identified in the B Series Pattern Book.
• 1824 William Taylor Copeland joins the London partnership; becomes a member of the Goldsmiths’ Company.
• 1826 W. T. Copeland forms a new partnership with Spode II to run for 7 years.
• 1827 Spode II dies forcing Spode III out of retirement.
• 1829 Spode III dies.  Son Spode IV is only 6 years old.  Factory is run by workforce and administered by executors of Spode’s will until 1833.

Workers on the Factory Site

Filling the Bottle Kiln