James Dudson

Hanley

1838

1888

Earthenware, majolica, jasperware and ironstone manufacturer in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

The pottery business was started in 1800 by James's grandfather Richard Dudson and continued by his son Thomas. In turn Thomas's son James took over the business in 1838.
By 1851 the works employed 33 people.
The business exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and again in 1862.
James Dudson perfected an "exceptionally strong, vitreous clay body" - at the 1862 Great Exhibition he showed 'Improved ironstone jugs and teapots with metal tops.'
On the death of James Dudson in 1882 his son James Thomas took over control of the family business which was renamed J. T. Dudson in 1888.

James Dudson
Hanley, Staffordshire Potteries

Manufacturer of Hot Water Jugs, Tea Pots, Coffee or Tea Urns, Coffee Pots, and Sugar Boxes, with Britannia Metal Covers, in a large variety of shapes, sizes and patterns, in Fancy Colours - Blue, Sage, Drab, Brown, and White Stone Bodies. Also an assortment of Goods in Stone and general Earthenware. Parian and Majolica. Acid-Proof Mortars and Pestles, all sizes. Porous Water Bottles>
For Home and Foreign Markets

The Pottery Gazette, February 2nd 1880

James Dudson
Hanley, Staffordshire Potteries

Silver & Electro Platers' Ware in Great Variety

Jasper Ware, in Jugs, Teapots, Sugars, Creams, Biscuit Boxes, Stilton Cheese Stands and Covers, &c &c
For Home and Foreign Markets

Makers of the Patent Lock Stone Cover Teapots, Sugars, Coffee Pots, &c.

The Pottery Gazette, January 1885

relief moulded stoneware milk jug in the Argyle pattern

the Argyle pattern was registered on the 23rd December 1855

Argyle
J. Dudson . Hanley

light brown stoneware coffee pot with white sprigged
Neoclassical cherubs and grape vine band
rope-twist handle with bark spout

James Dudson
Licensed by the Patentees
Hanley Staffordshire

relief moulded stoneware jug with a wheat design

DUDSON

impressed mark with registration diamond

the registration diamond shows that the design
was registered on the 25th April 1861

DUDSON, James (1812-82), pottery manufacturer, Hanley.

James Dudson was born in Shelton on 12 March 1812, the son of Thomas Dudson, potter, and Elizabeth nee Penny.
James's grandfather, Richard Dudson (1768-1833) had begun the family pottery business with a factory in Broad Street in 1800.

Interior of the Hope Street Works
(Around 1890)

A second works, in Hope Street, was opened in 1809 with Thomas Dudson in charge. Thomas (1786-1845) ran the factory until his death in 1845, when James took it over. The pottery produced jasperware and stoneware in various colours.

James Dudson exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and again in 1862. The works employed 33 persons in 1851

He was an improvement commissioner for Hanley, but failed to secure election to the council in 1857. He married Jane nèe Spilsbury in March 1838. By 1841 the family was living in Clarence Street, Hanley. They moved to Alsager, Cheshire, in 1862 and James Dudson died there on 6 June 1882.

Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Hanley Town Centre
(around 1890)

His son James Thomas Dudson married Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Robert Scrivener, the ceremony being performed at Bethesda Methodist New Connexion church in September 1864.

James Thomas took over the family business on his father's death.

The firm continued in the control of the eighth generation of the Dudson family, until 2019, specialising in the production of wares for the hotel and restaurant market.

Sources: People of the Potteries, F Burchill and R Ross, History of the Potters' Union; Census 1841, '1851; information provided by Miss Audrey Dudson; Evening Sentinel 2 September 1975, Jewitt; M and H.