The prestigious Royal Worcester and Spode company has gone into administration. Makers of fine quality ceramics for over 250 years, the company numbered the Queen of England among its customers.

It filed for administration late yesterday (Nov 6), apparently another victim of the worldwide recession. It leaves 388 workers, mostly in Worcester and Stoke-on-Trent (England) wondering what is going to happen to their jobs and, indeed, will they still have jobs.

Price Cooperhouse, the Administrators, are trying to find a buyer for the company and said, “The business has a great heritage, a great product range, a Royal Warrant, and while we cannot guarantee a sale we will do all we can.”

How sad that such an historic company, makers of high quality pottery and porcelain, should finally succumb to current economic circumstances after withstanding wars, downturns and recessions for more than two and a half centuries.

Read about the history of Spode.