World of Wedgewood, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent, ST12 9 ER This is a truly wonderful experience for a disabled person, we certainly recommend you going there, and suggest you see and do as much as possible during your visit, it can take anything from 2 1/2 hours and up to a full day. First of all you journey through the lovely countryside of Barlaston, with walks galore if you can cope, then arriving at Wedgewood is a pleasure, the whole estate is neat and tidy, with now we noticed a large area of an attractive housing estate having been built, but these are modern and in a delightful array of different designed homes, it’s not off putting at all. It takes a while to drive around from the main entrance for the driveway up to the World of Wedgewood entrance and a large enough car park, with a number of disabled bays near to the main path that leads along the level approach to the entrance. May we suggest that you start at the entrance by the statue of Josiah Wedgewood (photo 6) and enter the huge reception area. Ahead and over to the right are the toilets, but if you are ready to go on with your visit, then do visit the V & A museum first you will find it’s entrance as soon as you enter the reception area, and it’s to your left (photo 20) WE SUGGEST YOU START YOUR VISIT HERE AT THE V & A MUSEUM (Please do read our review for the V & A museum which is our next review) ================================================================== Now let’s start our day with a little history for you, along with photos. Josiah Wedgewood was born at the church yard pottery in Burslem, Staffordshire on 12th July 1730, the 12th child of Thomas Wedgewood who was also a potter. Even by nine Josiah was quite a skilled potter, going on to become an apprentice to his older brother Thomas Wedgewood 4th. In his late twenties he founded Wedgewood at Stoke on Trent, founding the actual Wedgewood company in 1759. During January 1764 he married Sarah, a third cousin, and they had eight children, one of his sons, Josiah, became father to Emma Darwin, who became the wife of Charles Darwin. He concentrated on earthenware and stoneware, rather than porcelains, which he himself never produced, and in the mid 1760’s he was getting many orders for his unique glazes he invented. He was introducing a creamware tea and coffee service and produced a wonderful set for queen Charlotte of England, and gaining the queens consent, he styled himself as The Potter to her Majesty, the set being delivered to her in 1766. His new inventions were adored by the gentry, green glaze, creamware, black basalt and Jasperware, and sales blossomed, making sure his designs remained in tune with the then current trends. Greek vases became very popular, and he produced the black stoneware which he called Basalt. He opened a new factory in north Stoke and became the Vase Maker General to the universe. He became a supporter of the transfer printing method, which was by far a cheaper Method than hand-painting. History shows he became very active in the movement against slavery, his grandson was Charles Darwin the evolutionist, be brought in the sales techniques of money back guarantees, and buy one get one free offers. Today he is known as the Father of English Potters. As he grew older, he passed on his company to his sons, and he died on 3rd January 1795, being buried in the Parish church of Stoke on Trent. His techniques are still in use today at Wedgewood, Barleston, their Bone China is a lightweight material used to create their wonderful tableware and Teaware such as plates, bowls, and teacups, and if you dine at the restaurant, your order will be presented in bone China, a treat you must enjoy, as it brings a feeling of elegance and sophistication to everyday life. Produced at Wedgewood, the chinaware is known world wide for its quality and the exquisite designs, and the history museum will show you just why Josiah Wedgewood will always be remembered. You may find it interesting to join one of their guided tours around the factory which will show you how their goods are produced, must it would be best to pre-book to make sure of a place. During 2023 it costs £10.00 for seniors, and your carer gets free admission, well worth trying this. Now walk around their shop and admire what you see, but not only Wedgewood items, but glassware as well as other manufacturers, items of exquisite delight that appeals so much in our dreams. LETS SEE OUR PHOTOS The ride through Barlaston is very pleasant, an area of open countryside, woods and ponds, before arriving at well ordered homes that will lead to the main driveway and the welcomed sign of The Wedgewood estate (photo 1) It is quite a drive around the estate passing modern but very attractive homes recently built until you reach the main car park. Just follow to the far end to find a number of disabled bays (photo 2). The main path lies ahead with a slight slope to get up but easy enough for your carer and then you will follow the path along as you pass the V&A museum building (photo 3) The main grey entrance will be in front of you across the well maintained lawns (photo 4) where on a warm day you will enjoy sitting and relaxing before your next visit to what ever event you decide to do today. Josiah Wedgewood overlooks the other outlets that stand around the main courtyard you will enjoy visiting later on today (photo 5) May we point out for you the store that stands at the far right hand corner, Sixtowns, on photo five, which turned out to be a very pleasant gin bar, open Wednesday through Sunday, offering gins produced especially by Sixtowns by Bros Distillery at The World of Wedgewood. You may enjoy their London Dry Gin, or a Pink Gin, Or you may prefer a Spiced Rum, or a Distilled Organic Vodka. There is a Distillery tour experience you might be interested in, at £25.00 and the tour will only take about 70 minutes. You will need to book in advance, to receive a digital voucher you will need to take with you. We love their Pocelain bottles that the drinks come in, shaped like pottery kilns. This is a new experience, it only opened in April 2023, so not yet receiving the advertising it deserves. However, we need to move on, Josiah is waiting to shake our hand (photo 6) so enter the main reception which is a huge open space (photo 7) with the toilets over to your right. Just before these you will see the entrance you need to go into for the shops and restaurant (photo 8) and right away the china clay tea sets welcome you to admire (photo 9). As you wander around there are many beautiful sets to choose from, nicely laid out to tempt the eye, but they are expensive (photo 10) then other products will enchant you, lit up that that beautiful chandelier (photo 11) Take a look at the china dinner set, fantastic the way they have laid this out (photo 12) but what about that magnificent tea set and glasses, wonderful (photo 13) how much to purchase the lot ? As you enter the restaurant you will be warmly welcomed (photo 14) and escorted to your seat. Plush, comfortable, well spaced out, and room for your wheelchair or scooter to be placed out of the way, but close enough (photo 15. On busy days and times it would be best to book in advance, it’s not really a large restaurant, but it is certainly attractive and inviting. Today we have chosen to join Wedgewood for Lunch, and started with their very filling soup dish, along with a breakfast tea selection served in a lovely Wedgewood designed Teapot (photo 16). However, the popular AFTERNOON TEA looks to be very popular (photo 17) and reports from satisfied customers were very much in favour of recommending you to try this extraordinary treat. Our main course has arrived, Hake goujons and French fries for Dennis, served on a toasted bread smothered in a fish mayonnaise, very well presented and tasty to match. Veronica chose the Halloumi on a toasted bread with a tomato topping and French fries. And the tea kept pouring. What a wonderful experience, well worth the visit, we will recommend either lunch or afternoon tea, go on, go for it. After relaxing you may wish to join us for the V&A museum visit,. REVIEWED ON OUR NEXT REVIEW FOR YOU TO READ.

What a fascinating history of Wedgewood potteries put together by what is now a world wide museum of culture, The V&A collection (Victoria & Albert) This is a well laid out museum, very interesting, and ideal for disabled, there is plenty of room to take all kinds of chairs and scooters around each room, you will see all the exhibits, and depending on yourself, it can take half an hour and up to two hours to see it all. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5.00pm. It is a free museum, There are guided tours on selected days, £5.00 each, but it’s just as fascinating to wander around on your own, with over 165,000 ceramics, art, photos and manuscripts to see. After parking in a disabled bay in main car park, a wide path will lead you alongside the V&A museum (photo 1) and into the main World of Wedgewood block, and over in the left hand corner you will find the entrance for the V&A museum (photo 2). You follow this passage to the main entrance with automatic sliding doors, all on the level (photo 3) with an explanation board offering details about the museum (photo 4) It is a easy route to follow, just head for what you fancy seeing in each room (photo 5) perhaps starting by admiring the wonderful Wedgewood Campanula tea and coffee set (photo 6) which was owned by Karl Largerfeld of Chanel, and the set was acquired from his estate. Designed by Paul Follet from the design drawings, for Wedgewood, and this most creative design is an example of why the Wedgewood company looks to modern designers for inspiration today. Each room is well laid out, with lots of open spaces (photo 7) as you wander round, the way we chose led us from the first inventions (photo 8) through the famous Wedgewood Blue figures (photo 9) and along into the main exhibitions on show (photo 10) which included the interesting cabinet of old memories (photo 11) Sadly, you are soon at the end of your visit (photo 12) and will return to the main reception area, where over in the corner (photo 13) you will find the disabled toilets (photo 14) which is simply plain and basic but plenty of room for all kinds of chairs and scooters, and it has grab rails and pull cord (photo 15). Then you may enter the shops for your Wedgewood Dreams (photo 16) well that’s all we could afford, dreams. DO NOW READ OUR WORLD OF WEDGEWOOD REVIEW. ===================================================================== We see Clare has reviewed another V&A collection museum at Dundee for us, and it’s sounds almost as good as the museum in Wedgewood, Stoke on Trent, so please do read her review as well.