Poole Pottery, known for its fine antique vases, urns, dinnerware, and other collectible china, had a history that began with the takeover in 1873 of the defunct pottery works of James Walker by Jesse Carter in the town of Poole, Dorset, England. The manufactory was located near the docks of the harbor at Poole, so as to easily offload the rich clay deposits from the nearby hills and to ship finished products to the rest of the world. The company grew rapidly under Jesse's direction, soon taking over nearby rival Patent Architectural Pottery at Hamworthy.

As the name implies, Carter's Industrial Tile Manufactory produced mainly tile and mosaic until after World War I. But gradually there seeped in the production of ceramic artware as well.