In 1751 Dr. John Wall, and a group of local businessmen established a porcelain factory on the banks of the River Severn. The earliest Worcester Porcelain was painted in blue under the glaze. By 1756 Robert Hancock had arrived at Worcester, the first man to apply transferring of prints on to porcelain. Around 1770 one of the first Royal services was made for the Duke of Gloucester.
Dr John Wall retired in 1774, however his partners continued to manufacture until their London agent, Thomas Flight took over. By 1789 the quality of Worcester Porcelain earned the company the prestigious 'Royal Warrant' as Manufacturers to their Majesties- thus the word 'Royal' was added to the name. In 1840 manufacture was consolidated on the current factory site and major modernisation followed in 1862. The 'Worcester Royal Porcelain Company Limited' was thus formed.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, Royal Worcester produced a new material called Parian, which revolutionised figure making.

The firm concentrated on the production of figures and vases, introducing over 2500 new decorative items between 1862 and 1900. The Victorians believed that good designs from the past should be adapted and improved to create tasteful new designs. They favoured a mixture of period and foreign styles in the home. Furniture, carpets, wallpapers, silver and fabrics were elaborately decorated. Royal Worcester's Art Director, Richard Binns encouraged the design of decorative objects in many styles including Japanese, French Empire, Persian, Indian, Renaissance and Classical Greek.

Exhibition pieces were created, such as the Norman Conquest Vases, the Potters' Vases and the giant Chicago Vase, now on show at the Museum of Worcester Porcelain. During the early 20th century Royal Worcester took a traditional approach to shapes and decoration.In the early 20th century, Sheraton and Hepplewhite furniture enjoyed a revival in England and Georgian style interiors became fashionable. Royal Worcester produced new versions of many old Worcester designs in Georgian style. The Chairman of Royal Worcester, Charles Dyson Perrins (1864 - 1958) collected 18th century Worcester Porcelain and probably encouraged the use of Georgian forms of shape and decoration. The favourite patterns of the early 20th century were coloured flower borders, Willow pattern, and Blue Dragon. Rich items are created by many hands, from designer and modeller to mould maker, caster and gilder, but today often only the painter is given the credit. Around 1900 Royal Worcester allowed the painters to sign their work for the first time. (The signature usually appears on the edge of the painting, not on the bottom of a piece) The artists were encouraged to specialise and develop individual styles, they all collected cuttings, photographs and postcards, which they often worked from.

With high unemployment in Europe, the General strike of 1926 and the Wall Street crash of 1929, there was still little demand for luxury china on either side of the Atlantic. Royal Worcester narrowly escaped closure and was rescued by Charles Dyson Perrins who bought the company outright in the early 1930's. All forms of earthenware and glazed Parian were discontinued in 1931 and in the same year under the guidance of Managing Director Joseph Gimson C.B.E.

Factory Workers packing Royal Worcester into Barrels in the 1950's

After the war, when one third of the factory was given over to war work, the company's fortunes were revived. Today Royal Worcester has regained it's position as one of the most famous and successful UK china and porcelain manufacturers.

The factory celebrated its 250th anniversary 2001 and continues the tradition of blending art and rigorous craftsmanship.

The works are located on Severn Street, a site they have occupied for over 160 years. Included in the complex of buildings are a museum (The Museum of Worcester Porcelain), factory shop, a theatre where you can view a film on the history of the pottery, and The Manufactory, where you can experience what life was like for a potter at the turn of the 20th century.

The Museum, which houses the worlds largest collection of Worcester Porcelain, is arranged in three galleries, focussed on the Georgian, Victorian and Twentieth Century periods. An Exhibition Hall hosts an ongoing programme of events, workshops, and lectures. The original museum here was founded as a motivational tool, intended to inspire the factory workers!