Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas And A Happy, Healthy And Prosperous 2012.
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Welcome to my Norah Wellings Journal. Since writing my book 'Norah Wellings Cloth Dolls and Soft Toys' in 2003 I have wanted to share more information on Norah Wellings Products.I am hoping through my blog to do just that. If you have anything that you would like to share about Norah Wellings I would love to hear from you.Please email me at norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com Copyright of pictures and articles published on this site are retained by myself or the person who took the photograph.
Contacting Me and Comments
My book ' Norah Wellings Cloth Dolls and Soft Toys' is now out of print but can sometimes be found on ebay or Amazon.
I have written articles for The Doll Advertiser an excellent magazine by Judy Bebber and printed twice a year in the United Kingdom. Judy Bebber also organizes Doll Fairs. To order Magazines and for Information on the Fairs please go to her website www.dolladvertiser.com
I am happy to answer any questions you may have regarding Norah Wellings Items or if you would like to share any Norah Wellings products you have please email me. Emails and photographs can be sent to this address
norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you
Very Best Wishes
Gill
I have written articles for The Doll Advertiser an excellent magazine by Judy Bebber and printed twice a year in the United Kingdom. Judy Bebber also organizes Doll Fairs. To order Magazines and for Information on the Fairs please go to her website www.dolladvertiser.com
I am happy to answer any questions you may have regarding Norah Wellings Items or if you would like to share any Norah Wellings products you have please email me. Emails and photographs can be sent to this address
norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you
Very Best Wishes
Gill
Copyright
All photographs and articles presented on this site are copyrighted by those offering the images or articles for posting and are not to be used by other persons without permission. All writings and photographs are copyright Gillian Trotter unless specified.Victoria Toy Works
Norah Wellings, Leonard Wellings and The Victoria Toy Works
Norah Wellings was a very talented artist and designer of cloth dolls, she started her career with Chad Valley in 1919 and became one of their chief doll designers. Leonard Wellings her brother was also an artist and well known for his plastering skills having his own premises in Wellington, Shropshire. When Norah left Chad Valley it was Leonard who suggested Norah rent a room in his building to make Cloth Dolls and Soft Toys. Norah moved into the premises in 1926 with only six women employees and called the small factory room The Victoria Toy Works. Norah Wellings began production and the catalogues and letterheads described the company as ‘Manufacturers of Soft Fabric Toys and Novelties’. Leonard was involved in the business and promotion side of the company as well as continuing with his own plastering firm.
Norah designed all of the dolls and soft toys herself. In 1927 she attended her first British Industry Toy Fair where her Products were shown for the first time with great success. The business grew very quickly and Leonard and Norah decided they needed larger premises and in 1929 bought a Baptist Chapel in King Street, Wellington, which was expanded and buildings added over the years. At the peak time during the 1930’s there were around 250 employees. Norah Wellings was also one of Britain’s leading doll exporters with over 70% of sales going overseas, this is why so many dolls are found world wide today. Many of the products were sold on board ship as holiday souvenirs.
Leonard Wellings died in 1959 at the age of 67 Norah had lost not only her brother but also her business partner and best friend. Norah decided it was time to retire and so on September 4th 1959 Employees were given two weeks notice and production ceased. Norah spent her retirement doing the things she enjoyed, painting, cooking and gardening, Norah Wellings died in 1975 at the age of 82.
Norah designed all of the dolls and soft toys herself. In 1927 she attended her first British Industry Toy Fair where her Products were shown for the first time with great success. The business grew very quickly and Leonard and Norah decided they needed larger premises and in 1929 bought a Baptist Chapel in King Street, Wellington, which was expanded and buildings added over the years. At the peak time during the 1930’s there were around 250 employees. Norah Wellings was also one of Britain’s leading doll exporters with over 70% of sales going overseas, this is why so many dolls are found world wide today. Many of the products were sold on board ship as holiday souvenirs.
Leonard Wellings died in 1959 at the age of 67 Norah had lost not only her brother but also her business partner and best friend. Norah decided it was time to retire and so on September 4th 1959 Employees were given two weeks notice and production ceased. Norah spent her retirement doing the things she enjoyed, painting, cooking and gardening, Norah Wellings died in 1975 at the age of 82.
Norah Wellings At The British Industry Fair 1935
Norah Wellings holding an 'Old English' Night Dress Case Model 997, all the other Dolls are 'Norene' Models. Back Row, Duch Boy, Model 854. Middle Row, School Boy, Model 890, Girl ,Model 888. Front Row Old Man ,Model 894, Old Woman,Model 893. The last two models are very rare, I have not found them in a catalogue and they are modelled to represent 18th Century English Gentry.
Norah Wellings
Norah Wellings Sculpting a 'Babimine' Head with a 'Norene' Doll sitting and an 'Islander' just seen behind the 'Norene'. Photo taken in the 1930's
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If you would like to make any comments on any of my articles please do so you do not have to be registered to make a comment. I see all comments before being published. If you need an answer to a question then it would be better to email me at norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com that way I can reply directly to you.
I hope you enjoy my Norah Wellings Journal.
Very Best Wishes
Gill
I hope you enjoy my Norah Wellings Journal.
Very Best Wishes
Gill
After trailing through many web pages I was more than happy to find your blog page. I have a Jolly sailor doll in my possesion (handed down through the family). I would like to know a bit more as it`s not a cruise ship but a famous Royal Navy battleship HMS Rodney, launched in 1933. Was there many made for the Royal Navy? Or was it a one off? And are the Navy ones rarer (is that a word?)? Yours sincerly Jim.
ReplyDeleteHello Jim,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I am afraid without your email I have had to answer here. The Jollyboy sailors are the most found of Norah Wellings Dolls at one stage they were making 100,000 a year for the yearly Navy Week and the Aldershot Tattoo. They were also made for Cruise Ships . The hat bands had all the different names of the ships on them both Navy Ships and Cruise Ships. The dolls range in sizes from 7 to 36 inches with the 8 to 10 inch ones being the most found. I am hoping to write an article soon on the Sailors so keep watching.If you would like to send me a photo of your doll I might be able to tell you more about it. Just email me at norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com Thank you once again
Kind Regards
Gill