'Compton' wallpaper

In the ‘Collected Works of William Morris’ edited by May Morris, she attributed ‘Compton’ as William Morris's last design for a wallpaper (and adapted as a pattern for fabric). However, it is now believed to have in fact been designed by Morris & Co.'s Chief Designer John Henry Dearle.

In 1895-6, Morris and Co. redesigned the residence of Laurence W. Hodson, Compton Hall near Wolverhampton. 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 house designs. Rather, he and Dearle worked together, sending designs back and forth and correcting each other’s work. 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 original drawing for the design is in the William Morris Gallery’s collection (A214). The pattern was registered by the firm as both a wallpaper and printed cotton on 27 February 1896.