Description:A postcard view of the Longton Road frontage of the Lotus Ltd. shoe factory in Stone, built in 1950. The architect was Raymond E. Hawkins of Cannock and the building contractors were Messrs F. and E.V. Linford, also of Cannock.
Lotus was originally named Bostock's and was founded in the eighteenth century by Thomas Bostock, a cobbler. His three sons started their own factories in Stafford, Stone and Northampton. In 1919 the three factories amalgamated to become Lotus. The original Stone factory opened on Cross Street in the 1850s.
Lotus remained in Stone until 1975. The building was purchased by G.E.C. Meters in 1978 and was later the home of ABB Meters. In 2023 the owners were Hitachi Energy UK Ltd. The old factory buildings on Cross Street and Oulton Road were demolished in 1999 and new housing built.
Postcard published by Valentine & Son Ltd. of Dundee and London.