Report - Twyfords Bathrooms, Cliff Vale Works Stoke 2005

[dweeb]

"The name of Twyfords is international; their famous sanitary ware can be found in every kind of building, from palaces to public conveniences. However, the origins of the firm are quite interesting, and include an amusing tale of early industrial espionage.

The story begins in the late 17th century in Amsterdam, where the brothers Elers, who were potters, heard about the fine red clay to be found in North Staffordshire. In 1693 they decided to emigrate and open potteries in Bradwell and Burslem, where they specialised in making tasteful, red porcelain, unglazed teapots. The Elers became very successful, and, jealous of their manufacturing secrets, took all possible security precautions. Such precautions aroused the curiosity of many local craftsmen, and none more than the young and ambitious Josiah Twyford, who had recently completed his apprenticeship.

Wishing to advance his knowledge, he decided to apply for work at the Elers factory, where he was able to observe all the various processes and master all the secrets the Elers had brought with them. Josiah then established his own business among the thatched cottages of Shelton, but it was not long before the Elers discovered they were not the only people making their kind of pottery, so, in 1710, they moved to new premises near to London.

The exact date that Twyfords finished potting at the original works is not known, but by the 1840s the business was being carried on at the Bath Street Works, Hanley, and the Abbey Works. It was about this time they turned their attention to the manufacture of sanitary ware. In 1885 an inquiry was received from a French architect who wanted to be supplied with a basin to be fixed open and exposed, without any wooden enclosure. Mr. T. W. Twyford immediately had a design submitted to the architect, who was so pleased that 700 were ordered at once. This type is known as "wash-out" and was the pioneer of the "pedestal."

In 1896, Mr. T. W. Twyford gave an interest in his company to long-serving members of his staff, and, in 1919, it became a public company and the family interests sold. Works were built in Germany but expropriated during the 1914-18 war. The present head office and factory in Cliffe Vale, with its fine frontage, was rebuilt in 1887, and is currently the administrative centre of a very large organisation, producing all kinds of sanitary ware.

For Turk and I this is where it all began, and for myself this building started a lifelong passion for exploring industrial buildings. It is doubtful that anybody reading this has not relieved themselves in a piece of ceramic made in this building...

I didn't even really understand what I was looking at back then, but looking back this place was good... god knows what epic I walked straight past. The entire basement level was full of very old records which would probably have been incredible if we had looked through them properly, but it took a while to hone the old raking skills!

Out back a pair of very fine bottle kilns stood among the rubble, quite well preserved considering they had been unused since the 50's

Quite unbelievably this building was brought back from the brink and today still stands as flats. See Stoke, you can do it!!

The incredible customer toilets, every part including the cubical partitions made of china

And how they ended up

Got to love that wallpaper

This collapsed between our visits in '05. Not before I had walked through it!

After collapse

The main staircase was lit by this huge window which would have had the crests of the United Kingdom in each panel. Sadly most of this was on the floor by 2005

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[dweeb]

2005

During conversion

Today

 

[Oxygen Thief]

Well, that's one place I'd have put money on getting demolished. Cheers for the update.