A short History of Royal Doulton Wares

1: The Royal Doulton UK Factory

In 1815 as Napoleon Bonaparte suffered defeat at Waterloo, John Doulton, age 22, invested his
life savings of £100 in a small riverside pottery in Lambeth on the south bank of the Thames
river. Previously having worked for the widow Mrs. Martha Jones at her Vauxhall Walk Pottery,
John became a partner with Mrs. Jones and for foreman John Watts. One of 170 in the area, their
pottery produced utilitarian salt-glazed stoneware. When Mrs. Jones retired in 1820, the
company was renamed Doulton and Watts.

Early production from Doulton and Watts included salt-glazed stoneware bottles, jars, and other
packaging containers. Soon brown figure mugs and jugs in the likeness of Nelson and other
contemporary politicians and royals were in vogue, followed by commemorative wares. In 1827
the company’s success warranted a move to a bigger factory and the name was changed to
Doulton & Co., Lambeth.

In 1835 John Doulton’s son, Henry Doulton expressed an interest in the family business, and
began an informal yet strict apprenticeship with his father. Through his dedication and personal
ambition, he acquired full knowledge of the pottery trade, allowing him to play a leading role in
the day-to-day operation of the pottery. By 1871, Henry Doulton had launched a studio at the
Lambeth pottery, and offered work to designers and artists from a local art school. Their names
included the Barlow family (Florence, Hannah, and Arthur), Frank Butler, Mark Marshall, Eliza
Simmance, and George Tinworth. Then in 1882, the Doultons purchased the small earthenware
factory of Pinder, Bourne & Co, at Nile Street in Burslem, Staffordshire, which placed Doulton
in the region known as The Potteries. The company renamed itself once again, as Doulton and
Company.
By this time Doulton had become one of the most popular brands of stoneware and ceramics,
under the artistic direction of John Slater (from the Burslem pottery), who worked across a wide
variety of figurines, vases, character jugs, and decorative pieces, many designed by the prolific
and popular Leslie Harradine. Doulton products also came to the attention of the Royal family.
In 1901 King Edward VII granted the Burslem factory the Royal Warrant, which allowed the
business to adopt new markings and a new name, Royal Doulton. The company continued to add
products during the first half of the 20th century while retaining its reputation as a prime
manufacturer of fashionable and high-quality bone china.
The Lambeth factory closed in 1956 due to new clean air regulations that prevented the
production of salt glaze in the urban environment. Following closure, all work was transferred to
the Burslem Potteries.
To read more about the history of Royal Doulton, look for the book Royal Doulton: A Legacy of
Excellence, 1871 – 1945, by Arron Rimpley and Gregg Whittecar, owners of the Whitley
Collection and Seawaychina.com
For those with a serious interest in Royal Doulton, please look into the International Royal
Doulton Event and Exihibition, happening this July, 2009. The Whitley Collection will be
expecting collectors and exhibitors from all over the world to converge for 3 days to view rare
Doulton pieces, make purchases and talk about Royal Doulton with others. When the doors open
Friday night, collectors will be greeted with a champagne reception and the opportunity to
preview and acquire their own piece of British history. The shopping will continue Saturday with
a spectacular dinner party being planned for that evening. Guests will also be invited to the final
exhibition day on Sunday. Guests will also be invited to participate in golfing events and several
exciting Ann Arbor events happening that weekend, including an outdoor art festival.
Visit the Royal Doulton Event RSVP page to sign yourself up and to receive our special group
booking discount at the Ypsilanti Marriott at the Eagle Crest Resort.