Originally founded as a studio in 1897 within a large ceramic company, James Macintyre & Co, Moorcroft pottery soon made its mark on the world. Designs came from 24-year-old William Moorcroft who was soon personalizing each piece of pottery produced with his own signature or initials. This did little for James Macintyre’s name and reputation, and in 1912 the inevitable split occurred. William marched his workforce across Cobridge Park to a new factory in Sandbach Road where Moorcroft pottery is still made today. Money came from Liberty, the famous London store, and Liberty continued to control Moorcroft until 1962.

In 1904, Moorcroft won a gold medal at the St Louis International Exhibition and followed the achievement with further medals and commendations, culminating in the appointment of the Moorcroft company as Potters to HM The Queen in 1928.

On the death of William Moorcroft in 1945, his eldest son, Walter, took over management and design. In 1962, the Moorcroft family bought out Liberty, but Moorcroft seldom prospered. Finally, in 1984, the family sold the bulk of their shares on the open market. After several material shareholder changes in the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s, Moorcroft is now controlled by the Edwards family, and has been since 1993.

Over the past nine years the world profile of Moorcroft has grown internationally, both in quality and in perceived value. Auctioneers Christies hold a dedicated Moorcroft sale each year. In 2001, Sotheby’s New York held a major sale comprising many pieces of Moorcroft pottery. The Victoria & Albert museum has joined many other national museums with significant pieces of Moorcroft pottery in their permanent collections.

In 1993, Rachel Bishop joined Moorcroft as only its fourth designer in almost a hundred years. Just 24 years old, she was soon to see sales of her work flourish.

With that success came the Moorcroft centenary in 1997, and in the same year the Moorcroft Design Studio was formed, comprising eight designers with Rachel at their head. Through the medium of this new initiative, and with added value coming from the skills and craftsmanship of a dedicated workforce, Moorcroft is selling its magnificent work all over the world today.