When was Royal Winton founded?

Royal Winton was founded in 1885, making it one of the long-established names in the British ceramics industry, as Royal Winton pottery was produced by Grimwades Ltd, a company established in Stoke-on-Trent, the centre of England's pottery trade. The business began when brothers Leonard and Sidney Grimwade entered the ceramics industry during a period of rapid industrial growth. Stoke-on-Trent already contained many famous pottery manufacturers, and competition was strong. Even so, Grimwades developed a reputation for producing decorative and practical wares for everyday use, the Royal Winton name itself appeared later and became one of the firm's most recognised brands. During the early decades of the 20th century, production expanded into many categories, including tea ware, breakfast sets, decorative ornaments and giftware. The company benefited from improvements in pottery manufacturing methods that allowed larger quantities of decorated ceramics to be produced. By the 1920s and 1930s, Royal Winton products were being exported to overseas markets, including the United States, Canada and Australia. More than 140 years have passed since the firm's beginnings and during that time, Royal Winton survived economic downturns, changes in fashion and two world wars. Its long history remains one of the reasons collectors continue to study and preserve examples of its pottery today.