‘Compton’ was previously thought to have been William Morris’s last repeating textile design, as recorded by May Morris in her ‘Collected Works of William Morris’. However, following Linda Parry’s research the design has been ascribed to John Henry Dearle. Morris and Co. re-designed the interior of Compton Hall, Wolverhampton, in 1895-6 for Laurence W. Hodson. Although Morris had a hand in some of the designs (this is confirmed in surviving letters), there is no evidence that he was sole designer for any of the new items designed specifically for the house. Rather he and Dearle worked together, sending designs back and forth. The evidence to suggest this is in fact Dearle’s design is further strengthened by its similarity to his other work, particularly ‘Leicester’ wallpaper. The design was registered as a wallpaper and printed cotton on 27 February 1896.
