Norah Wellings Journal: June 2023

Wednesday 14 June 2023

Norah Wellings Family Archive Collection at S A S Auction 22nd June

Exciting News ! SAS Auction House has a wonderful 3 day auction coming up from the 19th to 22nd June.

On the last day of the auction, 22nd June there will Norah Wellings items being sold from the Family Collection. These include Dolls, Catalogues, Photographs and Drawings. Many of the items appeared in my book ' Norah Wellings Cloth Dolls and Soft Toys'.

Daniel Agnew has kindly sent me photographs from the auction and I have added some of them to this article.

It was around 30 years ago when I first contacted Isobel Nicholls the Niece of Norah Wellings about a book I was writing. Isobel very kindly invited me to her home to take photographs of Norah Wellings items she had and also to share her memories. I went back a few times to see her and my book was published in 2003. Unfortunately the book is out of print now but I am hoping to get in listed on Kindle soon.

Viewing for the auction is from the 15th June to the 19th June and you can leave bids or bid online. I advise you to check the condition of the items as some are not in as good condition when photographs were taken for my book. All the information you need is available following the link below. Good Luck if you are bidding.

Please go to the link below for more information and to see lots more Norah Wellings items.

Sorry you will need to copy and paste into your browser.

https://www.specialauctionservices.com/Auction-Calendar/2023/Dolls-and-Teddy-Bears-Auction-(2)

Go to the link below to see these and MORE fabulous Norah Wellings Items in the SAS auction

Thank You Daniel Agnew for all the wonderful photographs.

Sorry you will need to copy and paste link in your browser.

https://www.specialauctionservices.com/Auction-Calendar/2023/Dolls-and-Teddy-Bears-Auction-(2)

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.