Some of the most frequent questions I am asked revolve around key dates for Doulton or Royal Doulton as they became.

Over the next period I intend to set out what I consider to be the key dates for first of all the Burslem factory and thereafter the Lambeth factory. So here goes…

Part 1: 1780-1899

1780       A Nile St. Pottery was established

1878       Doulton and Pinder Bourne began a partnership. At this time Pinder Bourne had a workforce of ca. 160

1878       ‘Corolian’ introduced

1880       ‘Cobalt Blue’ introduced

1882       The pottery became Doulton & Co.

1882       John Slater was appointed Art Director for Burslem

‘Hispano Moresque’ introduced

John Bailey became the General Manager

1884       Fine china body introduced

1889       A workforce of 1200 is recorded

1889       ‘Photographic ware’ introduced

C. J. Noke joined Doulton & Co.

‘Seriesware’ introduced

1890       ‘Spanishware’, ‘Chiné’, ‘Lustre’, ‘Tapestry’ and ‘Blue Figures/Children’ all introduced

1893       Noke’s ‘Vellum figures’ introduced

1895       Royle’s Patent used

1895       Advertising wares introduced

‘Holbein’ introduced

1896       ‘Luscian’ introduced

1897       Princess Louise gave a Doulton dessert service to Queen Victoria

1898       ‘Kingsware’ introduced

‘Rembrandt’ introduced

1899       ‘Lactolian’ introduced

In the next part we will cover the next 20 years of the 20th Century, that proved so pivotal to the success of the Burslem venture and shape the products we associate with Doulton to this day.