English ceramic factory at Stoke-on-Trent founded by Josiah Spode I (1733–97). He was born at Lane Delph, near Stoke, and is thought to have been employed in a pottery until taken on as an apprentice by Thomas Whieldon in 1749. Leaving as a journeyman in 1754, he worked for William Banks & John Turner (1738–86) at Stoke until 1761, when it is stated that he worked his own pottery at Shelton. In 1764, in partnership with William Tomlinson, Spode rented the Banks & Turner pottery and, after Tomlinson’s retirement in 1774, bought the works in 1776, taking Thomas Mountford as a partner that same year at another pottery at Shelton. Spode continued to work at Stoke until his death. His son, Josiah Spode II (b 1755; d 16 July 1827), also learnt the pottery trade and in 1775 became a dealer in earthenware, porcelain and glass, moving to London in ...