Tea became the nation's beverage during Queen Victoria's reign. Lower taxes on tea and the expansion of plantations in India meant there was more affordable tea than ever before, making it accessible to more levels of society.
 
This is a pretty, late Victorian set, made in Staffordshire around 1890, it would have been used in a moderately wealthy household or tearooms of the day.
 
It comprises:
6 tea cups
6 saucers
6 tea plates
A milk jug
A sugar bowl
And a Bread and butter or cake plate
 
Diameter of the large cake plate 24cm