The Wedgwood Institute
The Institute stands on the site of the Brick House pottery works, which was rented by Josiah Wedgwood from 1762 to 1770. This was the second of his potworks in Burslem (the first being the Ivy House works).
The striking front elevation of the Wedgwood Institute was built by R. Edgar and John Lockwood Kipling (father of Rudyard Kipling) and took six years to complete. The foundation stone was laid by future Prime Minister, William Gladstone, on 26 October 1863.
The striking front elevation of the Wedgwood Institute was built by R. Edgar and John Lockwood Kipling (father of Rudyard Kipling) and took six years to complete. The foundation stone was laid by future Prime Minister, William Gladstone, on 26 October 1863.
Josiah Wedgwood guards the entrance to the institute that bears his name
It was built with funds raised by public subscription to make arts, science, and literature available to all, not just the rich who had previously had the only access. It was also designed to be the main centre for arts activity in the Six Towns of the Potteries. Highly successful, it soon extended into two new wings before the demand for art education necessitated the building of a new purpose built School of Art, on the opposite side of Queen Street.
During the late nineteenth century, the Institute played its part in developing ceramic artist, William Moorcroft, pioneer of radio, Oliver Lodge and, author, Arnold Bennett, in whose books, the Institute features regularly. It continued as a successful seat of learning in its own right through most of the 20th Century before becoming an annex for Staffordshire University and, most recently, Stoke-on-Trent College. In 1993 the building was inspected in the light of new fire escape regulations and its use was, consequently, restricted to the ground floor. The College ceased using the Institute later that year, leaving only the Library in residence, before closing permanently in 2009. Recent rumours rumble about The Princes Trust financing some renovation work. Let's hope so.
During the late nineteenth century, the Institute played its part in developing ceramic artist, William Moorcroft, pioneer of radio, Oliver Lodge and, author, Arnold Bennett, in whose books, the Institute features regularly. It continued as a successful seat of learning in its own right through most of the 20th Century before becoming an annex for Staffordshire University and, most recently, Stoke-on-Trent College. In 1993 the building was inspected in the light of new fire escape regulations and its use was, consequently, restricted to the ground floor. The College ceased using the Institute later that year, leaving only the Library in residence, before closing permanently in 2009. Recent rumours rumble about The Princes Trust financing some renovation work. Let's hope so.
Why bother rewriting something when this says it all. From http://www.thepotteries.org/tour/047.htm
"This is not part of a sumptuous palace in some sunny Venetian square but the facade of the Wedgwood Institute, Burslem. The central character of this architectural spectacular is Josiah Wedgwood, who, from his vantage point over the tiled entrance, surveys the rush of traffic and pedestrians. His background consists of a colourful wall, richly decorated with carvings depicting the various stages of pottery manufacture; figures that represent the months; inlaid signs of the zodiac; arches, pillars, foliage, and many interesting examples of mosaic and brick work. The design and plans were by Mr. G. B. Nichols who was obviously influenced by the work of 15th century Italian architects; the terracotta details were by Rowland Morris and William Wright, national scholars from the Potteries School of Art. A decision to acquire a site for an institute as a memorial to Josiah Wedgwood was made in 1859, and in 1863 land was bought in Queen Street for £1,500. Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer, laid the foundation stone in October of that year. Beneath the stone, a china casket was placed, containing a record on vellum of the building to be erected. In 1869, the building was completed and officially opened by Earl de Grey.
Burslem was the second town in the country to take advantage of the Free Libraries Act which insured an annual income of £200 for the Institute. The first school of art in the Institute was founded in October, 1869, and the appointed headmaster, Mr. G. Theaker of the South Kensington Art School, held the position until his death in 1902. In 1894, the new Technological Schools were incorporated and opened by Princess Louise. By 1898 there were 400 students attending the various technical and art classes. One student was Oliver Lodge, the great scientist."
Neville Malkin 13th July 1974
"This is not part of a sumptuous palace in some sunny Venetian square but the facade of the Wedgwood Institute, Burslem. The central character of this architectural spectacular is Josiah Wedgwood, who, from his vantage point over the tiled entrance, surveys the rush of traffic and pedestrians. His background consists of a colourful wall, richly decorated with carvings depicting the various stages of pottery manufacture; figures that represent the months; inlaid signs of the zodiac; arches, pillars, foliage, and many interesting examples of mosaic and brick work. The design and plans were by Mr. G. B. Nichols who was obviously influenced by the work of 15th century Italian architects; the terracotta details were by Rowland Morris and William Wright, national scholars from the Potteries School of Art. A decision to acquire a site for an institute as a memorial to Josiah Wedgwood was made in 1859, and in 1863 land was bought in Queen Street for £1,500. Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer, laid the foundation stone in October of that year. Beneath the stone, a china casket was placed, containing a record on vellum of the building to be erected. In 1869, the building was completed and officially opened by Earl de Grey.
Burslem was the second town in the country to take advantage of the Free Libraries Act which insured an annual income of £200 for the Institute. The first school of art in the Institute was founded in October, 1869, and the appointed headmaster, Mr. G. Theaker of the South Kensington Art School, held the position until his death in 1902. In 1894, the new Technological Schools were incorporated and opened by Princess Louise. By 1898 there were 400 students attending the various technical and art classes. One student was Oliver Lodge, the great scientist."
Neville Malkin 13th July 1974
The twelve friezes on the front of The Wedgwood Institute
The frontage of the Institute contains twelve large terracotta tiles depicting the months of the year, as well as a separate stone carving for each month. Beneath each month (except June and July) is a large, rectangular carving of the people of the Potteries performing their different jobs, together with a statue of Josiah Wedgwood, above the main entrance.
Twelve astrological signs...
Twelve carved reliefs of some ancient-looking dudes and dudettes...
Ten rectangular, carved stone panels showing scenes from everyday working life in The Six Towns.
(June and July are above the entrance and flank the statue of Josiah Wedgwood and do not feature these panels.)
(June and July are above the entrance and flank the statue of Josiah Wedgwood and do not feature these panels.)
The Card (1952) Dir: Ronald Neame
Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, Petula Clarke, and Joey the Mule
The 1952 film version of Arnold Bennet's 1911 comic novel, The Card, was partly filmed on location in Burslem. The Five Towns Thrift Club is headquartered in [a stylised version of] The Wedgwood Institute. Interestingly, for the film, only the ground floor of the building is real. The Old Town Hall features in two Mayoral scenes, and a scene involving a removal wagon, a steep hill, and a canal was filmed on Navigation Road.
