Ladbrooke was born in the English county of
Norfolk on 31 October 1803. He was the third of four sons of the painter
Robert Ladbrooke, all of whom were artists to varying degrees, with Henry and John Berney achieving the most success. Another brother, Robert, became a wood carver and
gilder, picture cleaner, and drawing master. He became a pupil of the
Norwich artist
John Crome, who was his uncle by marriage, and whose artistic style he followed. Before 1850 Ladbrooke toured the Netherlands and France. He was married to Hannah, but there were no children from the marriage. The fruit and flower painter
Maria Louisa Margitson was his niece. In 1859 he built a house on
Mousehold Heath. Ladbrooke died at his home in Norwich on 11 July 1879 and was buried at the nearby
Rosary Cemetery. ==Artistic career==