Royal Stafford Tableware

Earlier this week I went to visit Royal Stafford Tableware in Burslem, one of the six towns of Stoke on Trent, to visit Norman Tempest the company's Managing Director and to get a closer look at production in the factory.

The clay is filter pressed at the beginning of production to wash away any impurities.

And then pushed through a pug mill to take any air out of the clay, the rolls of clay are ready for slices to be taken off for pressing plates, cups and bowls.

Plates being made from the slices of de-aired clay, the trimmings fly off to the side and are reclaimed.

Tea cup handle moulds, liquid clay is poured into these moulds to form the solid handles.

handles are cast in pairs and then separated for sticking onto cups.

Handles being positioned & applied

cup production, see the turreted sponge cleaning up the top of the cups

The Sponger, cleaning up any seem lines around the handle and cup.