Description:'Alton' pattern kitchen ware by Staffordshire Potteries. Staffordshire Potteries were formed in 1950 out of the Keele Street Pottery Group. They made mugs, kitchen and dinner ware at their factory on the former Meir Airport site in Longton. their 'Kilncraft' brand was introduced in in 1972 and by 1985 they were the largest manufacturers of mugs in the world. In 1986 the company was sold to the Coloroll Group.