R.D. English Cottages

Royal Doulton introduced the series know as English Cottages A in 1924 and it was in production up until circa 1942. English Cottages A is in fact two series. The first of these series I will call English Cottages Evening, to date all the examples of this series that I have seen have the pattern number D4390 which was introduced into production in 1924. The second pattern is English Cottages Morning; this pattern has the pattern number D4987. This pattern was introduced in 1929.

Royal Doulton English Cottages Morning Vase Shape 8025; D4987
production era 1929 to 1943

Royal Doulton English Cottages "A" Series

Pattern Numbers

D4390 introduced 1924

As already mentioned, this pattern we will refer to as the English Cottages "A" Evening

D4987 introduced 1929

As already mentioned, this pattern we will refer to as the English Cottages "A" Morning

Royal Doulton English Cottages A Float Bowl (shape 7562)

Royal Doulton English Cottages Morning Float Bowl (shape 7562)

There are also three pattern numbers issued against the Bone China version of English Cottages Morning.

H3424 introduced 1927

H3915 introduced 1930

H3916 introduced 1930

The vase on the left is Bone China example of Royal Doulton English Cottages "A" where the example on the right is Earthen Ware

Occasionally examples are found with two different series on the same item, on this example English Cottages and Fox Hunting B on the same Jug. The Jug is an embossed shape which has the maker’s mark that was discontinued in 1932; so a production era of 1930 to 1932.

To date we have identified five different scenes to the Royal Doulton English Cottages "A" Evening series D.4390. As is my way I do not generally change the names of scenes named by Louise Irvine.

The Evening Scenes

As Defined by Louise Irvine

1: A group of cottages behind a stream with wodden bridge

Image of scene yet to be sourced - can you help?

2: Thatched cottage with timbered gable-end behind stream

D4390: date coded July 1925

Additional Evening Scenes

As Defined by Nicholnack

Church beside a lane

Thatched cottages beside a fenced pond

Thatched gable end Cottage beside pond

Royal Doulton English Cottages - Thatched gable end Cottage beside pond

D4390 - dated coded January 1927

To date we have identified eight different scenes to the Royal Doulton English Cottages "A" Morning series D4987.

The Morning Scenes

As Defined by Louise Irvine

3: Large thatched cottage with two wings

4: House with elaborate timbered gable-end

5: L-shaped thatched cottage

6: Cottage by a path

Additional Morning Scenes

As Defined by Nicholnack

"L" shaped thatched cottage with chimney at gable end

"U" shaped thatched cottage with garden fence

Royal Doulton English Cottages Morning

The Lone Tree

Royal Doulton English Cottages

This tree is unique to this series. It appears on the back of many items and to one side of main scene on large items like the float bowl shown near the head of this page.

Bridge over stream

I have found examples of this scene on the back of both Earthen Ware and Bone China examples.