Beswick England

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Beswick Pottery

John Beswick Ltd, formerly J. W. Beswick, was a pottery manufacturer founded in 1894 by James Wright Beswick and his sons John and Gilbert in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. In 1969, Doulton & Co. Ltd acquired the business. The factory closed in 2002, and the brand John Beswick was sold in 2004, known for high-quality porcelain figurines like farm animals and Beatrix Potter characters, highly sought in the collectibles market.

Based at the Gold Street works in Longton, they initially crafted tablewares and ornaments like Staffordshire cats and dogs. James Wright Beswick’s death in 1921 didn’t hinder the company’s growth under his grandson, John Ewart Beswick. In 1934, high-fired bone china allowed the production of top-tier figurines, including famous racehorses and champion dogs. The company became John Beswick Ltd in 1936.

In 1939, Arthur Gredington became chief modeller, initiating the production of farm animal figurines. His range of 190 Rearing Horsemen, produced by the company, is highly popular. Under decorating manager Jim Hayward, lifelike animal pieces, such as cats, dogs, farm animals, fish, and wild animals, gained prominence. Continued expansion led to the acquisition of an adjoining factory in 1945 for offices, warehousing, and new potting and firing facilities.

In 1947, Lucy Beswick proposed bringing Beatrix Potter illustrations to life. In 1948, John Beswick secured the right to reproduce a range of 10 Beatrix Potter earthenware characters. The first, Jemima Puddle-Duck, was modelled by Arthur Gredington. By 1952, Beswick started manufacturing Disney characters. In 1969, Beswick was sold to Doulton & Co. Ltd, and by 1989, the Beswick backstamp gave way to the Royal Doulton Royal Albert DA backstamp.

The Beatrix Potter characters’ popularity led to their reintroduction in 1998 for collectors. Royal Doulton ceased Beswick production by the end of 2002, selling the Gold Street works to developers in 2003.

In 2004, Beswick’s name and product design rights were sold. Dartington Crystal now owns the John Beswick name, producing animal figurines, vases, and giftware.

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