Shaw and Copestake Ltd

Earthenware manufacturer at the Drury Works (later called the Slyvan Works), Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England

The business was founded in 1894, at the Drury Works, Normacot Road, by William Shaw and his uncle William Copestake.
William Copestake retired after four years and Mr. Richard Hull became William Shaw's partner in the business.
Richard Hull's son - also named Richard Hull - joined the business in 1924. Following his father's death in 1935 Richard Hall (jnr) became a partner in the business.
In 1936 the business became incorporated as a Limited company and Richard Hall (jnr) became joint managing Director.
In 1938 the directors of Shaw & Copestake acquired the company 'Thomas Lawrance' and the name was changed to Thomas Lawrance (Longton) Limited of the Falcon Pottery, Waterloo Street, Longton.
The name "SylvaC" seems to have been registered by Shaw & Copestake in 1938
"The Sylvan Works were founded in 1894 by William Shaw and his uncle William Copestake. The latter retired after only four years and in his place William Shaw was joined by Richard Hull, the father of Richard Hull of the Falcon Pottery, who had then recently returned from a sojourn in Canada. Richard Hull junior (of the Falcon Pottery) succeeded to his father's place as a partner in the Sylvan works when the latter died in 1935, and in the succeeding year, when the firm became a limited company, William Shaw became its Managing Director. For six years it was under his direction before he retired, whereupon he was succeeded by Richard Hull and was joined on the Board by Eric J. Dennis of the Falcon. Thus the connection of the two firms was already established" 1956 book 'British Potters and Pottery Today'
"Still closer relationship resulted however when, in the War years, the Ministry of Supply took over the Sylvan Works, for the business was transferred to the Falcon Pottery [under the Wartime Concentration Scheme]. This war-time amalgamation proved so satisfactory that it was decided, in 1945, to continue the arrangement on the sales side, while each continued to cater for its own particular market for earthenware 'Fancies'." 1956 book 'British Potters and Pottery Today'
In 1957, to accompodate both businesses, a new factory was built in Normacot Road, Longton, on land opposite the old Shaw and Copestake factory. At this time around 140 people were employed.
At this time around 140 people were employed.
At the new premises, the output of the two businesses gradually merged and in 1962 the Thomas Lawrance business was folded into that of Shaw & Copestake. Use of the Falcon Mark of Thomas Lawrence was ceased in 1964.
Following the voluntary liquidation of Shaw and Copestake in 1982 the factory and contents were bought by the North Midlands Co-Operative Society and from there they leased it to a workers co-operative society called Longton Ceramics.

Shaw & Copestake
Sylvan Works, Normacot Road, Longton, Staffs
Manufacturers of
Decorated Vases, Jugs, Flower Pots, Cheese Stands,
Trinkets and Toilet Ware, and Fancy Earthenware

from..... 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'

Posy trough with deer
Woodland Range
designer: Reginald Thompson
produced 1960s to 1982

pattern number - 4231

Range of terrier dogs
produced 1939-82

pattern numbers - 1378, 1379, 1380

leaf shaped and patterned small dish

Vase with square foot
designer: George Matthews
produced 1970s

pattern number - 4950

Hand Painted
William Shakespeare character jug
produced 1960s - 1975

pattern number - 4473

Honey Pot with Rasberry face
designer: George Matthews
produced 1970s

pattern number - 4898

Shaw & Copestake produced a range of kitchen ware under the Sylvac name.

There were two different decorations using the same moulds - numbers 5337 to 5366.

Cordon Brun Kitchen Ware was cream and brown and decorated with kitchen utensils.

Winsor Kitchen Ware was white with a red, grey or black band.

Windsor Kitchen Ware continued to be produced by Crown Winsor.

SylvaC
Cordon Brun
Made in England

The Teddy and Zooline nursery patterns shared the same shapes
all these were produced from the 1960s to 1989 (under Crown Winsor)
The exception being the train engine and truck (5478,9) which were only produced in 1981-82)

Early ware was unmarked. "SylvaC" was a trade name often used by Shaw & Copestake,
it was not until c.1937 that the name "SylvaC" was impressed on the bottom of the ware
but it was very haphazard and much ware was unmarked.

SylvaC Ware

Metal foil tag.
This mark was also used as a printed mark.

There is a similar mark for export ware which has
"Made in Great Britain"

This photo taken from Gower Street, Normacot Street is running left to right.
At the left is the Sealion pub on the corner of Chadwick Street
(the Spiritualist Church is now on the site of the pub) - on the far right is St. James Street.

In 1957, to accompodate both businesses, a new factory was built in Normacot Road, Longton,
on land opposite the old Shaw and Copestake factory.