Alfred Bailey Jones (1851-1940) was born in Longton the son of William Jones a former customs and excise officer.
He began work at Aynsley's Pottery, Longton at the age of ten and by 1876 he had established his own business as pottery factor.
He built the Grafton Works in 1900 in Longton and took the name from the nearby Junior & Infants school.
Grafton Works, Marlborough Rd., Longton (StaffsPastTrack)
Early backstamp
Pompadour pattern early 20thC (family collection)
A B Jones
In 1900 Alfred Jones was appointed Justice of the Peace.
In November 1905 and again in 1909 he was elected Mayor of Longton.
He married Ann Howson and they had six children including (William) Bertram and Alfred Bailey Jnr.
Bertram and Alfred Jnr both joined him in the business in 1900 and from then on it was known as A.B. Jones and Sons Ltd.
Mrs A B Jones Snr
H.M. Landship "Crème de Menthe"
Crested china became popular in the early 20thC and Grafton was one of many Stoke potteries that created items
for the market.
In 1900 they were advertising "Badge Ware and View Ware" and by 1906 they also made "miniature ivory arms china" with the arms of any county,
city or borough in heraldic colours that became popular as souvenir items.
This continued in WW1 and in 1919 they made crested souvenirs of the Great War.
"Sitting Frog" was one of many animals made and would have been made with green glass eyes.
Mug showing the ancient seal of Hertford and the name "Hitchin"
Bertram worked with his father and brother Alfred Jnr in the business.
He married May Forrester in 1904 and they settled at Blythe Bridge where they had two daughters Dorothy and Muriel.
As well as his work at the factory, Bertram was a director of Longton Cottage Hospital,
a Justice of the Peace and involved with the local Methodist churches.
Bertram died in 1940 aged only 64
Bertram Jones
Alfred Bailey Jones Jnr married Ethel Aynsley in 1903
and the 1911 census shows them living at Meadowside, Longton Rd., Trentham with their children Eric, Nancie and Leslie.
Wedding of Alfred Jones Jnr and Ethel Aynsley. Alfred's parents can be seen top right of photo and his brother Bertram is third gentleman from left.
Meadowside, Longton Road is third house from left.
During WW1 the North Staffs Regt.
POW Association packed and sent more than 50,000 food parcels to camps in Europe and Ethel Jones played a key role in this.
Advertisement showing the international reach of Grafton China
Tea set c1920s
Backstamp c1920s
Backstamp early 1930s
At the British Industries Fair in 1932 the Grafton stand was visited by
H M Queen Mary and she placed an order for a coffee set.
The cheque from Queen Mary for the coffee set.
Alfred Jones Jnr
After the death of A B Jones Snr and also Bertram in 1940,
Alfred Jones Jnr became Chairman and his sons Leslie and Eric were involved in running the business.
In 1939 Leslie Jones learned to fly and joined the RAF.
During WW2 Leslie and his wife Lillian let out their home on Brook Rd., Trentham and Lillian went to London to work for the War Office.
1940s Royal Grafton tea pot
Leslie and Lillian
Leslie Jones - grandson of Alfred Bailey Jones Snr. -
took over the management of Royal Grafton in the 1950s and he and his wife, Lillian moved to Lyndhurst on Barlaston Old Rd, Trentham.
Lillian initiated exercise classes in the village hall and also tours around Royal Grafton for some visiting actors that she knew from her time working in the theatre,
including Jack Warner and Norman Wisdom.
Their son Robert eventually joined his father at Royal Grafton.
Dinner service 1950s
1950s tea cup
1950s back stamps
Photo includes mug with drawing of Hank from TV's Whirligig drawn by Francis Coudrill and
figure called Pop from a newspaper cartoon.
(family collection)
Many thanks to the "Grafton" family who have helped to create this profile.
More information is available at www.thepotteries.org
