• The pottery business was started in 1800 by James Thomas's great grandfather Richard Dudson 

• On the death of James Dudson in 1882 his son James Thomas took over control of the family business it appears not to have been renamed to J. T. Dudson until 1888.  

• It was James Thomas who saw the potential in supplying the growing leisure and tourism business -by this time, the railways were well established, shipping lines began to flourish and an increasing number of hotels were being built. The exceptionally strong, vitreous clay body perfected by his father was ideally suited to the production of catering ware, and so, from around 1891, the company increasingly turned its attention to this new growth area.

• In December 1898 the business became Dudson Brothers. 

James Thomas Dudson
around 1890

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 (Thomas Dudson) death in 1882. 

James Thomas Dudson
around 1907

"Mr. J. T. Dudson, of Ivy House, Alsager, has just been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county of Cheshire. 

Mr. Dudson’s sons carry on, as hitherto, the pottery manufacturing business in Hanley, from which he retired recently. 

We congratulate Mr. Dudson on his appointment, and the members of the bench on having acquired such a capable colleague."

Pottery Gazette August 1907