Louisa Ann Wade

Louisa Ann Wade (July 1843 – 29 July 1920) was the head of the Royal School of Needlework for forty years.

Early life Wade was born in Finsbury. She was one of the fourteen children of the Tractarian Reverend Nugent Wade and Louisa (born Fenwick). Her father led St Anne's Church in Soho. Sculptor George Edward Wade was one of her brothers.

Career Her brother Fairfax Blomfield Wade was a designer at the School of Art Needlework, and in 1873 she too was employed together with her younger sisters Octavia and Edith Wade. She already had experience of needlework as she learned the skill on church embroidery and she had used it to make and sell pieces for charity. It existed to keep the skill of hand embroidery going and to provide employment for impoverished ladies. The three sisters were not impoverished.

Wade and the school were involved with major royal events including the funeral of Queen Victoria. The school was able to create raised needlework and Wade was credited with its adoption. She had the task of managing the school but she still spent some time doing embroidery. She resigned around 1915 after 40 years and was replaced by her assistant, Evelyn Bradshaw. Wade died in Roehampton in 1920.