• The family pottery business was started in 1800 by Richard Dudson 

• Through a series of  Dudson generations James Thomas Dudson acquired control of the family business which in turn became Dudson Brothers in December 1899. 

• In 1918 the business was incorporated as Dudson 

• Dudsons remained open during the Second World War under the Wartime Concentration Scheme - they were permitted to produce undecorated domestic ware. They also produced canteen ware for the British armed forces. 

• In 1947 the managing director was listed as H. S. Dudson. 

• In 1951 Dudson established J E Heath Ltd as a new catering ware manufacturer - the managing director of J E Heath was C. B. Dudson.  

• In 1952 Dudson Bros acquired The Grindley Hotel Ware Co Ltd - it continued to trade under its own name as a member of the Dudson Group. 

• Dudson was incorporated as Dudson Brothers Limited in June 1967. 

• In 1996 there was a change of name of the companies owned by Dudson Holdings Ltd:

  • In June 1996 Dudson Brothers Limited changed its name to Dudson Limited.

  • In 1996 J E Heath Ltd (wholly owned by Dudson Holdings) changed its name to Dudson Armorlite Ltd, this company became dormant in 2001 and the assets and trade was transferred to Dudson Ltd. 

  • Also in 1996 The Duraline Hotel Ware Co (wholly owned by Dudson Holdings) changed its name to Dudson Duraline Ltd. 

• In March 2001 the entire chare capital of Dudson Armorlite Ltd and Dudson Duraline Ltd was transferred to Dudson Limited. 

• 2005/6 saw the completion of a £7 million investment programme. Total number of employees was 625. 

• The 2010 annual report noted that "The incidence of counterfeiting of ceramic products in the hospitality industry is increasing and examples of counterfeit Dudson produces continue to appear in the European market."  

• For the year 2013 there was a reported loss before taxation of £5 million.

• In April 2019 Dudson went into administration at the time there were 318 workers at the Scotia Road factory.
  Churchill China purchased the Dudson brand and intellectual property in respect of two of Dudson's product ranges, 'Harvest' and 'Evo'. It did not purchase the Dudson Group operating business

Dudson Brothers (successors to Jas. T. Dudson), Hope street, Hanley, are manufacturers of all descriptions of stoneware and earthenware. Their London representatives, Messrs. Mogridge & Under hay, 10, Bartlett ’s-buildings, Holborn-circus, E.C., have a good selection of samples of the firm’s productions always on show at their rooms. 

One of the special lines at present is a neat floral decoration — raised flowers on coloured bands. These bands are of various colours, and the whole tone of the ornamentation is artistic. Samples of it are shown applied to all kinds of useful domestic stoneware. 

The firm also manufacture several lines expressly for hotels, restaurants, cafes and clubs. 

One of the principal productions of the firm is Jasper ware, of which they make a speciality. They supply “Jasper” in light and dark blue, brown, sage green, and dark green, and some other colours, with well modelled white figures. Jasper ware includes art vases, pedestals and flower pots, tea and coffee pots, sugars, creams, and butters, hot water and cocoa jugs, sets of jugs in several useful shapes, cheese stands and covers, tobacco jars, biscuit boxes, &c. 

The tea and coffee pots and jugs are supplied with either metal covers or patent lock stone covers. This firm have some useful pattern sheets showing their newest artistic decorations, which they will forward to dealers in the trade on application.

Pottery Gazette Jan 1906