No 96 -  Milton Hollins Tileworks

"Occupying the greater part of one side of Shelton Old Road, Stoke, stands the old patent tileworks of Minton Hollins, a firm renowned for the manufacture of beautiful encaustic tiles. The business was established in 1840 by Herbert Minton and his nephew, Mr. M. D. Hollins, who later became the sole proprietor. 

Originally, tile-making was carried on in premises in Church Street, Stoke, but owing to the development of trade and the popularity of the tiles, the works proved to be inadequate.

The existing building, covering an area of more than seven acres and employing more than 800 people, was erected with sufficient resources to meet the most pressing demands. On the long, clean, red-brick frontage many examples of their tiles are featured in a variety of designs, set either into panels over the windows or individually placed at regular intervals.

If we could go back to the latter part of the 19th century and were able to enter through the gateway into the inner precinct, we would have been confronted at first by the offices; ascending the staircase, we would have been surprised by the walls which were covered with tiles of various colours and designs, all bearing the firm's monogram as their central ornament. There were examples in every passage, at every turning, and in every corner. Even the floors were inlaid with encaustic tiles, reminding us of classical tesselated pavements. The walls inside the offices were relieved with tiles, and on tables, mantelpieces, and in odd corners, you would have noticed the choice ornamentation, all reflecting the resources of the potter's art.

Behind the offices you would have entered a large open space lined with square workshops several storeys high, each a small self-contained unit. There were also 14 firing ovens of exceptional size, belching forth inky bellows of smoke; several large quantities of clay, in various colours, were heaped about the place.

Encaustic tiles were made from plastic clay composed principally of the same earthy and mineral ingredients as those for other pottery, but with the addition of china clay. To give some idea of production, there were no less than 60 presses in daily use, plus several others operated by women and girls. The manufacture of encaustic tiles was quite a complicated process but one that Minton Hollins brought to a high degree of perfection."

12th May 1976