The Old Falcon Works / Stoke on Trent / Exploring abandoned and Derelict places UK

William Henry Goss studied at the School of Design, Somerset House, London. He initially specialised in ivory porcelain and perfected a method of improving the finish of jeweled porcelain, and invented the body and enamels for the heraldic china by which he is best known today. [see the biography of W.H. Goss]

From 1858 to c.1870 William Henry Goss was at the Cock Works in John Street (now Leese Street), off Liverpool Road. He set up in business here on his own after working at W.T.Copelands for about a year.

Goss moved to the Falcon Works around 1870.

In 1873 Goss registered a patent for improvements in the manufacturer of various items made from ceramic materials.

1883 - His son Adolphus joined the firm and was key in developing the souvenir trinket market.

1900 Adolphus left the firm after some disagreements with his father.

Between 1902 and 1905 the Falcon Works were extended.

William H Goss handed over the firm to two of his other sons, Victor Henry and William Huntley.

W H Goss died in 1906 and was buried in Hartshill Cemetary. For probate the business and effects were valued at £59,603 14s 5d. (equivalent of £6 million in 2013)

In 1913 Victor Henry died in a riding accident and William Huntley was left in charge of the business. He was not interest in progress and the firm gradually fell behind the times.

1929 the business taken over by Cauldon Potteries Ltd. and continued under the Goss name.

1929 Goss was an exhibitor at the British Industries Fair, Birmingham. They were listed as 'Manufacturers of Ivory Porcelain, Teaware, Preserve Pots, and Souvenirs. Art Pottery.'

1934 - the business was renamed Goss China Co. Ltd.

The business was acquired by Harold T. Robinson who also purchased Cauldon Potteries and many heraldic china producers.

The works closed in 1944

The business and works since 1956

1956 - the molds and engravings were purchased by the Lawley Group Ltd. and by this time the Falcon Works belonged to Portmeirion Potteries Ltd. [who in 1961 acquired the business and works of Kirkhams Ltd who operated next to the Falcon Works.]

August 1979 - the two remaining glost kilns and workshop/warehouse range were registered as Listed Buildings.

1985 - the Goss trademark was revived by Royal Doulton Ltd. (who has subsumed Lawleys - and others)

In 2002 Portmeirion carried out a study called 'The Potteries Response On Maintenance Of The Environment (PROMOTE) LIFE PROJECT.
The original PROMOTE LIFE proposal was to build a working factory of the millennium, incorporating a Visitor Centre, on a derelict site, of about 1.3 hectares, adjacent to the factory on London Road, incorporating the former Falcon Works kilns and buildings. However, following a review of the Visitor Centre project, the Portmeirion Board of Directors decided to invest in its core business, rather than develop the tourism sector.

In December 2002 Portmeirion applied for listed building planning consent for 'Part demolition of the Falcon Works and refurbishment of the remaining area' - this application was abandoned.

2011 - In the Stoke-on-Trent City Council 'Stoke Town Masterplan', October 2011 the Falcon Works was identified as "a beautiful site with potential for residential conversion but the market is unlikely to bring it forward in the short term and there are issues with noise from the Portmeirion works. In the medium term, the proposal is a market-led approach that brings forward a residential refurbishment together with a new build element to screen the Portmeirion factory."

2011 - the Falcon Works were sold by Portmeirion to a company named Connexa.


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