Norah Wellings Journal: February 2014

Monday, 3 February 2014

Norah Wellings Paintings and Soccer Player

Oh dear what can I say this was meant to be my Happy New Year article!! Here we are at the beginning of February. I hope you all enjoyed the Festive Season it seems so far away now especially with Easter Eggs now in the shops. I do hope that 2014 will be A Good Year for all of you and sorry for the delay.

I thought I would show what Norah Wellings items I bought during last year but then I couldn't remember buying anything. I knew that couldn't possibly be true and as we have just moved I hadn't unpacked everything until a few weeks ago and low and behold I unpacked two wonderful paintings by Norah Wellings. I believe the roses is an earlier work judging from her signature and the pot of flowers painted in her retirement. There is a similar painting in my book using the same table in the later painting. I am thrilled to bits with them especailly as I enjoyed seeing Norah Wellings garden which was very special to her in retirement and her roses were a favourite , I hope you enjoy seeing them.

The other purchase is a cute little soccer player only 6 1/2 inches tall from the Norah Wellings Novelty Range model 1167 he first appeared in an unmarked catalogue that looks to be 1939/40. I was told by the former Manager that the first ones were sold wearing Wolverhampton colours. Other colour outfits were made later. These do not appear in any of the 1950 catalogues.

I am amazed I got through last year with only these Norah Wellings purchases, I wonder what this year will bring!

Happy Hunting

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

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.

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.