China and earthenware manufacturer at the Vale Works, Goddard Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

• Herbert Joseph Colclough started business in 1897 and around 1907 moved to the Vale Works in Goddard Street, Longton. 

• In 1913 King George V and Queen Mary visited the Vale Works and the company received a royal licence and 'Royal Vale' was adopted as a trade name. 

• In 1937 the businesses of H J Colclough, Thomas Morris and Osborne China Co. were combined and became Colclough China Ltd. 

- more on the Imari pattern - 

This mass produced Imari style ware has a printed pattern with hand painted colouring and gilding. 

The often crudely applied transparent colour allows the print to show through. 

Cobalt blue is applied as accents. 

ROYAL "VALE" CHINA
H J C
Longton
England

c. 1928-37

Golliwoggs at the seaside

design based on one of the Florence Kate Upton books
showing the typical "penny wooden" dolls featured in her stories - 
unusually the golliwogg characters are white face

ROYAL "VALE" CHINA
H J C
Longton
England

c. 1928-37

c.1935-37 

1908-28

This earlier mark is more elaborate with clearer flags, crown and centre detail. 
The initials H J C are printed in a serif font. 

1928-37

In 1928 this style of mark was redrawn - the initials are sans-serif

There are some variations in the execution of the mark 

NOTE: This mark was continued by the subsequent company Colclough China Ltd  

Vale China
British Made
H J C
L

'Rainbow' is the pattern name 

plate - pattern number: 3702

part of a 21 piece tea set

  

the cups have the "ROYAL VALE CHINA" mark 

however the plates etc. also carry the H H & G Ltd mark  

H H & G Ltd - Hales, Hancock & Godwin Ltd  
were were not pottery manufacturers but were agents and retailers who retailed ware made by a number of manufacturers