W.R. Midwinter Ltd was established in Burslem, Staffordshire in about 1910. During the 1950s, there was a revolution of style and design, partly attributable to the general ethos following the lifting of wartime restrictions, but also due to the forward thinking of Roy Midwinter, the son of the original founder. American buyers had become bored by the floral designs produced by many British ceramic manufacturers, and this prompted Roy Midwinter to go on a ‘fact-finding’ mission to the USA where he was inspired by contemporary American ceramic designers.

The original Midwinter range, Stylecraft, was launched in 1953 and was decorated with many hand-painted and printed designs. Many of the patterns were created by Jessie Tait, who joined the company in the 1940s.

In recent times, these designs of the mid 1950s and later, have become increasingly appreciated, and hence Midwinter pottery has become highly collectible.