Meakin
Works, Stoke-on-Trent. Copyright: The Potteries
Museum & Art Gallery 2002.
The
Alfred Meakin company was set up in 1874 by the
amalgamation of Royal, Victoria and Highgate
pottery factories. The company produced
ironstone china and white granite ware, much of
which was sold in America through mail order
catalogues. Since its beginnings the company has
undergone several changes of management: between
1913 and 1976 it was known as Alfred Meakin
(Tunstall) Ltd., in 1976 was acquired by Myott,
Son & Co., in 1980 shifted production to
Cobridge and between 1989 and 1991 was taken
over by Melton Modes and the Churchill group.
As well as producing ironstone china and white
granite ware during the Art Nouveau period the
company also produced patterned tiles and in the
1950s produced dinnerware used on the Flying
Scotsman. In around 1900 the company produced
the world's biggest teapot (which was later
beaten by another company and whose fate is
unknown) and in 1913 presented King George V and
Queen Mary with a 'Bleu de Roi' dinner set during
a royal visit.
