Royal Crown Derby

1756. In the Victoria and Albert  Museum Library is preserved the original manuscript 'Articles of Agreement between John Heath of Derby, in the County of Derby, Gentleman, Andrew Planche of ye same Place, China Maker and Wm. Duesbury of Longton, in ye County of Stafford, Enameller'. It was made and entered into the on 1st January, 1756. The partnership agreement was to open a factory to manufacture porcelain in Derby. Andrew Planché was a potter who had migrated to England from France to escape religious persecution. William Duesbury was the son of a potter and had worked as a china painter in London for the Chelsea and Bow Porcelain companies. They commenced in a small factory made from converted cottages at Cockpit Hill just outside Derby, England. Planché introduced what were termed ‘dry edged’ figures which became immensely popular but he quickly disappeared from the scene. It was Duesbury’s business sense that took the firm to national importance.
1770. Duesbury acquired the famous Chelsea porcelain factory in London. The firm attracted the most skilled artists of the day to produce fine figurines and dinnerware. He operated it on this original site until 1784, the products being referred to as "Chelsea-Derby", but he then demolished the buildings and transferred all stock, patterns and moulds as well as many workmen to Derby.
1775. King George III bestowed a Royal Warrant appointing “Wm. Duesbury and John Heath 'Derby China Manufacturers to His Majesty'”. This allowed the firm to incorporate the royal crown into the Derby backstamp and the firm became known as Crown Derby.
1776. Duesbury acquired the remainder of the formerly prestigious Bow porcelain factory and also transferred the assets to Derby. Heath was made bankrupt and this affected the business.
1784. All work in London was transferred to a factory at Nottingham Rd. in Derby.
1786. William Duesbury died and the company passed to his son, William Duesbury II, an excellent leader who introduced a number of new techniques. All work was now concentrated at the Derby site. The period was described as "the Golden Age of the Derby factory"
1796. Duesbury’s health deteriorated and it became necessary for him to take an Irishman Michael Kean into partnership. William Duesbury II died in 1797 at the age of 34 and Kean married his widow a year later. William Duesbury III born in 1790 became involved under the direction of his stepfather, Mr. Kean and the firm was known as Duesbury & Kean.
1811. The reputation of the Derby name had declined under Kean so that he withdrew from the partnership. Kean sold his interest to William Duesbury III's father-in-law WE Sheffield, and the business continued under the name of Duesbury & Sheffield.
1815. The Duesburys withdrew from the business and the factory was leased to the firm's salesman and clerk, Robert Bloor. Bloor was a shrewd business man and art lover who knew the business well. The company began designing brightly colored Japanese imari patterns and new artists were hired as the company set about restoring its former reputation. He borrowed heavily to support the business but restored it to its former high position.
1846. Bloor had become deranged and Thomas Clarke who had married Bloor's grand-daughter took out a statute of lunacy against Bloor and carried on in control of the firm. However, neither he nor his wife was interested in the business and the firm’s fortunes sank until the Cockpit Works were sold and the factory closed in 1848.
1848. Derby was to be saved by a small group of artists and potters who opened a pottery in King Street and continued to use the moulds, patterns and trademarks of the former business. They were William Locker, James Hill, Samuel Fearn, Samuel Sharp, John Henson, Sampson Hancock and George Stevenson. The firm traded under several names relating to these few. The name Duesbury was not again to be associated with the firm but from this small group of followers emerged the present day company.
1876. The Crown Derby Porcelain Company was formed led by E Philips and a year later the old Derby factory was demolished and a new one erected at Osmaston Road, Derby.
1890. Queen Victoria appointed Crown Derby to be “Manufacturers of Porcelain to Her Majesty.” By order of a Royal Warrant, the company became known as Royal Crown Derby.
1935. Royal Crown Derby acquired the King Street factory thus reuniting the two strands of the business.
1964. Royal Crown Derby was bought by S. Pearson and Son to become a member of the Allied English Potteries Group. Royal Crown Derby was then absorbed by Royal Doulton Porcelain.
2000. Hugh Gibson, a former director of Royal Doulton and a member of the Pearson family, led a buy-out making Royal Crown Derby once again an independent and privately-owned concern, which at present employs about 300 people at the Osmaston Road works.