Royal Grafton marks

About Royal Grafton China Ltd

Royal Grafton was a trade name used by A. B. Jones & Sons and later owners of the Grafton Works in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Alfred Bailey Jones had established a pottery decorating and selling business by 1876. In 1900 he built the Grafton Works and worked with his sons Alfred and William Bertram. The factory made bone china and earthenware, including tea, coffee and breakfast services, miniatures and souvenir pieces.

Grafton’s crested china included small vessels and animals carrying town and county arms. The business also supplied overseas markets. Queen Mary visited its stand at the British Industries Fair in 1932 and ordered a coffee set. The Royal Grafton name became prominent on later tableware, appearing with crowns, wreaths and several different lettering styles. Alfred Bailey Jones died in 1940; management continued through his son Alfred and then his grandson Leslie.

Crown House Glass acquired the business in 1966. It passed to New Zealand’s Crown Lynn in 1971 and continued using the Royal Grafton trade name. A management buyout followed in 1985, creating the business known as RGC Ltd. John Tams acquired it in March 1992. Royal Grafton therefore spans several owners rather than one unchanged legal company, and older factory names and later trade marks belong to different parts of the same production history.