James Hadley

Royal Worcester Artist - James Hadley (1837 - 1903)

In the 1850s James Hadley was apprenticed to Kerr & Binns of Worcester. He worked in the modelling department with Edward Locke and the young Thomas Brock.

By 1870 James Hadley had become the principal Worcester modeler and in 1875 he left the factory and set up his own modelling studio at 95 High Street, Worcester.

Hadley is reputed to have sold the complete output of his factories ornamental vases and figures to Royal Worcester and he inscribed his name on the base of his master models.

In 1895 Worcester cancelled James Hadleys contract due to a drastic drop in the demand for elaborate luxury goods. Hadley then rented some factory space from his old friend Edward Locke, who had set up his own works at Shrub Hill, Worcester.

In 1897 with the support of partner Frank Littledale, Hadley started to build a factory in Diglis Road, Worcester using land owned by his family. When complete early production concentrated on decorative art pottery with monochrome decoration and terracotta plaques.

Hadley wares were made using coloured clay mouldings in dark blue, green and brown which distinguished them from similar objects made by the Royal Worcester factory.

James Hadley employed a group of young artists including; William Jarman, Walter Powell, Arthur Lewis, Walter Sedgley, Albert Shuck, Kitty Blake and Mary Eaton, to paint peacocks, game birds and flowers in a subdued palette.

Softly painted roses in full bloom, painted in the Hadley style, later came to be known as Hadley Roses by collectors of Royal Worcester wares.

In 1900 Hadley & Sons became a limited company with shares held by James and his four sons, Louis, Howard, Harry & Frank, and Frank Littledale.