William Shaw was born in Longton in 1907
Eldest in the family with five brothers and one sister
Left school aged fourteen as needed in the family business, John Shaw & Sons
In 1938 he married Nora Jones at Trentham Parish church and they made their home at The Garth, Greenway on Dairyfields
William broke his ankle so was declared unfit for active service in World War Two
On August 29th 1940 he was admitted as an associate to the Institute of Company Accountants
He became Managing Director of John Shaw & Sons (Longton) Ltd which had been established at the Drewery Works
since 1920 making ornamental ware and table ware. They traded as Burlington Ware which later became Burlington Art Pottery
A family concern of high standing with five brothers as co-directors and his sister as company secretary.
Incorporated as a public company in 1933
William and Nora's son, Michael was born in 1944 and he has memories of his father in the 1950s
rebuilding and modernising the factory buildings and installing the latest machinery
John Shaw & Sons had three factories trading as Burlington Ware making earthenware, china and Toby jugs
The factories used were:
Willow Pottery on Warren Street
Warwick Works on Chadwick Street
Phoenix Pottery for china production
William Shaw died in Trentham in 1979
