Spode Timeline 1733 - 1833

Historical Timeline

Josiah Spode I was born

In 1733 Josiah Spode was born and christentend at St. Peter ad Vincula, the parish church of Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire

In 1733 Josiah Spode I was born

Josiah Spode  I's father died a pauper

1745 Jodiah Spode's sister married Ambrose Gallimore

1749-54 Josiah Spode I worked for Thomas Whieldon

1754 Josiah Spode I married Ellen Findlay

1754- 67  Josiah Spode I worked for William Banks & John Turner

1755 Josiah Spode II born

1757 Samuel Spode born

1765 William Copeland born

1767-75    Josiah Spode I rented a pottery in Church Street, Stoke, for use in partnership with William Tomlinson (partnership expired 1774)

1772-79        Josiah Spode I in partnership with Thomas Mountford

1775  Josiah Spode I  began negotiations for the pottery formerly owned by William Banks
1775 Josiah Spode II married Elizabeth Barker

1776   Josiah Spode I completed the purchase of the pottery that became the Spode Works

1776   Josiah I completed purchase of the Spode factory (formerly occupied by Banks & Turner)

1778 Josiah Spode  II became a liveryman of the City of London and  established retail premises at 29 Fore Street, London

1779   The partnership between Josiah Spode I and Mountford expires  and now Spode I can finally devote time to his own factory
1779 Spode upgrades his factory installing his first steam engine

 

1783   Samuel Spode married Sarah Garner in London then occupied The Foley Pottery in Fenton, Staffordshire

1784 - Blue Printing

1784 - War broke out

1784-85 Josiah Spode I began underglaze blue printing
1784  Josiah Spode II acquired larger premises at 46 Fore Street, London
1784  William Copeland joined Spode II joined in London

 

 

1789  Spode II acquired larger premises at 45 Fore Street, London

1795  Branch of the Tent & Mersey canal built along side Spode factory

1796 Josiah Spode invoiced Wm. Tatton of Tatton Hall  for  “English China”,  possibly the first reference to Spode’s early porcelain   
1796 Expiration of Cookworthy/Champion patent for making porcelain
1796 Josiah Spode II acquired even more extensive premises in Portugal Street, London

 

1797  Josiah Spode I died
1797   William Taylor Copeland was born

1802 Josiah Spode II purchased the freehold of the London retail premises
1802 Josiah Spode II purchased a Boulton & Watt engine to supplement his 1779 steam engine                      

 

1803 Josiah Spode III suffered an horrific accident necessitating amputation of his arm

1804 Josiah Spode II moved into his new house The Mount at Penkhull overlooking Stoke-upon-Trent, nearby he built houses for his workers

1805  the London business passed to William Spode & William Copeland

1806  The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Clarence visited the Spode factory
1806 Josiah Spode II appointed Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales 

 

1811 William Spode retired his London partnership with William Copeland dissolved December 31

1812  Josiah Spode II joins William Copeland as partner in the London business with Copeland holding 75% of the shares

1816  Josiah Spode II’s partnership in Cornish clay pits  and cobalt mines continue to grow

1817  H.M. Queen Charlotte visited Spode’s London showrooms and purchased a service

1820 Spode appointed Potter to His Majesty King George IV

1821  Spode supplied porcelain tableware for use at the coronation banquet of George IV

1822 Spode's Stone China formula changed and Spode’s New Stone was introduced

1822 Underglaze green prints introduced

1823 Spode provided a table service to The Honorable East India Company for use at their headquarters in Canton

1824 William Taylor Copeland admitted to the London retail partnership

1826 William Copeland died; Spode II and W.T. Copeland continue the London partnership 

1827  Josiah Spode II died

1829  Josiah Spode III died, his son Josiah IV was 6 years old

1829             Thomas Garrett chief clerk in the London business

1832  Underglaze pink prints introduced

1833 Spode family ends pottery interests and the factory becomes  Copeland & Garrett

 

Ceramics Timeline

 Spode family

Spode earthenware 1760s-70s

Spode stonewares of the late 18th century

Spode blue printing

Spode bone china

Spode stone china

Spode felspar porcelain

Spode color printing

Blue printing on earthenware

Josiah Spode I was the first potter to commercially produce underglaze blue printed earthenware.  It was in production by 1785 and profoundly changed the course of history for the Staffordshire potters.  This new technology produced attractive pottery at an affordable price.  The rising number of middle-class consumers offered a growing market at home and abroad and as the levels of disposable income rose, blue printed pottery became universally available.

For more about blue printed pottery click here

For more about blue printed patterns click here 

Plate, printed pattern Two Figures II