ðə kˈʌmpəni wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd baɪ dʒˈɑːn wˈɑːdɪŋtən ʌv lˈiːdz, ˈɪŋɡlənd ænd ðə mˈænɪdʒɚ, ˈæktɚɹ ænd plˈeɪɹaɪt wˈɪlsən bˈæɹɪt, ˌʌndɚ ðə nˈeɪm wˈɑːdɪŋtənz lˈɪmɪɾᵻd.
The company was founded by John Waddington of Leeds, England and the manager, actor and playwright Wilson Barrett, under the name Waddingtons Limited.