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 The Wedgwood Museum, Barlaston, Staffordshire, England, houses an extensive collection of Wedgwood pottery and artefacts, exhibiting the company's history and creativity. The British pottery company was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759. Wedgwood earned the favour of various European monarchs, including Queen Charlotte of England and Catherine the Great of Russia. The company was granted a royal warrant by various British monarchs and became known as "The Queen's Potter."
The new purpose-built visitor centre and museum was built in Barlaston in 1975 and later remodelled in 1985. A video theatre was added and a new gift shop, as well as an expanded demonstration area, where visitors could watch pottery being made. A further renovation costing £4.5 million was carried out in 2000 and included access to the main factory along with a visitor centre, restaurant and tea room. T
In 1986, Waterford Glass Group plc purchased Wedgwood plc for $360 million dollars but whilst Wedgwood went on to deliver a $39 million dollar profit in 1998 Waterford unfortunately produced a loss of $29 million dollars, after which the group was renamed Waterford Wedgwood plc. In 2009, following years of financial problems at group level, and after it’s shares dropped significantly in the global financial crisis of 2008, Waterford Wedgwood was placed into administration with only 1,800 employees remaining to run the company as a "going concern."
During this time a company factory in Jakarta was producing bone china under both Wedgwood and Royal Doulton brands. In order to reduce costs the majority of production of both brands has been transferred to Indonesia, with only a small number of high-end products continuing to be made in the UK.
The collection with 80,000 works of art, ceramics, manuscripts, letters and photographs faced being sold off to help satisfy pension debts, however, The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Art Fund as well as various trusts and businesses contributed donations to buy the collection and in October 2014, it was finally purchased and donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, although it continued to be displayed, on loan, at the Wedgwood Museum.
TOAL couldn't be any easier as I used the back edge of their carpark. I did ask if it was okay to film there and they said no problem but I did leave out the fact that I'd be using my mini 3 Pro! It gets pretty busy there so go early or late in the day for a relatively easy time and avoid flying over crowds. Google Maps will take you right there and not far away are:
The Plume and Feathers Pub owned by the actor Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly and Bob The Builder) - less than 3 minutes away by car and they do a cracking pub lunch or book the Restaurant.
Trentham Gardens and Shopping Outlet and Garden Centre - 10minutes by car.
View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.
Co-ordinates: 52.95594, -2.170846 • what3words: ///metals.films.reach
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