• Formerly W & E Corn at Navigation Road, Burslem and then Top Bridge Works, Longport.

• Upon transfer to the Pinnox Works in Tunstall in 1903... "The manufacture of general earthenware was abandoned, and the new plant was devoted exclusively to the production of tiles, except for a small amount of sanitary ware made, until 1925, on behalf of the sister house of Edward Johns & Co.

  At the same time, the existence of two other concerns bearing the family name - "Corn Bros." and "Corn Bros. & Co." - having led to confusion, the name of W. & E. Corn was allowed to lapse and the firm became "The Henry Richards Tile Company Limited", that inconveniently long name being reduced to its present form (Richards Tiles Ltd.) in 1931. 

  It will be seen that the "Henry" and the "Richards" of the firm's 1903 title were simply the second Christian names of the then partners."  (the brothers Alfred Henry Corn and Edmund Richards Corn)

• This firm continued under the direction of the Corn family and eventually became Richards Tiles Ltd.
  

Source: "A Century of Progress 1837-1937" a publication to commemorate The Centenary of Richards Tiles Ltd.

The pattern is in the Art Nouveau style and features a stylised water lily design with prominent leaves and a central bloom, set against a background that might represent water, complete with "pond bubbles". The colours, including greens, yellows, and blues, are typical of Art Nouveau ceramic work.

A number of colour variations were produced.

The number 393725 is a design registration number and shows that the design was first registered in 1902 and so was actually registered by W & E Corn just before the company name was changed to the Henry Richards Tile Company as they transitioned from producing general earthenware to tiles.

There is an example of this tile on the British Museum web site..

www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1994-0511-11

"In 1911 we entered this field of floor tiles and mosaic when a new factory, adjoining the main Pinnox works, was built and brought into successful operation and, to give us complete control of the grinding of our raw materials, we acquired the Burslem Mills Company. But soon the scourge of war was to check all peaceful progress, and plans for the parent factory had to be pigeon-holed until they could be carried into effect in the early 1920's. 

From: "Richards 1837 - 1953"