In 1815 John Doulton invested his life savings of 100GBP and partnered with Jones and Watts to establish a small riverside pottery business in Lambeth London producing utility salt glazed stoneware. Most pottery factories were situated by riversides to aid with transportation of products. By 1826 the company was trading as Doulton Watts.

This provided the foundation for John Doulton's son, Henry Doulton (photo below) to build an industrial empire based on his inventiveness which lead to ceramic sanitation solutions urgently required during that period, medical vessels that would withstand chemicals, and mass production techniques allowing response to growing demand. 

Josiah Wedgwood died on January 3, 1795. He had, in the words of his memorial tablet in St. Peter's, Stoke-on-Trent, "converted a rude and inconsiderable manufactury into an elegant art and an important part of national commerce". The sonorous epitaph continues by stating that at the same time Josiah had acquired an ample fortune. His factory and estate, named Etruria, situated near Hanley, Staffardshire, he bequeathed to his second son and namesake, Josiah.

Doultonware carried factory markings as well as monograms to indicate the artists and assistants who worked on a particular piece. The following article provides images of many monograms. 

Almost all Doulton items (Lambeth, Burslem and Royal Doulton) carried stamps and impressions that indicated the factory of origin or particular manufacture process. Over time these changed so they can also be used to indicate an items manufacture date range.

Doulton ware carried coded pattern numbers. This article provides tables you can use that map the codes with the year that pattern was introduced.

Robert Allen handpainted wares were never produced in large quantities and many were never repeated.

The following numbers indicate the approximate date range or period when the marked item was first introduced. This does not mean your item was produced in that year but simply that the year indicated is the earliest the piece could have been produced, the year it was introduced.