1883 - brothers Henry, Frederick and Alfred Johnson set up in business to manufacture semi-porcelain at a factory in Hanley; 1888 - opened the Hanley Pottery; 1889 - opened the Alexandra Pottery; 1891 - Imperial Pottery opened; – all of which were specially adapted for the large-scale production of fine earthenware tableware; 2011 - part of the WWRD United Kingdom Limited group