History of the Museum

The Wedgwood Museum Trust contains an unique record of the entire history of the Wedgwood ceramic Company from the early 18th century to today. It is unusual in the context of Company museums in that the concept was originally suggested by the founder Josiah Wedgwood I, who wrote on 3rd September 1774;

‘I have often wish’d I had saved a single specimen of all the new articles I have made, & would now give twenty times the original value for such a collection. For ten years past I have omitted doing this, because I did not begin it ten years sooner. I am now, from thinking, & talking a little more upon this subject with Mr Moore, resolv’d to make a beginning, & we have sketch’d out a Cabinet for some of the smaller & finer things, which Mr Moore is so kind to promise to see executed for me, if you approve of the plan.’ (Note: Samuel Moore was secretary of the Royal Society of Arts, from 1769 to 1799).

Although individual members of the Wedgwood family, from Josiah Wedgwood I onwards preserved certain wares produced from the Company's foundation in 1759, the collection was not amalgamated into a museum until 1906. The immediate cause of its institution at the Wedgwood factory of Etruria was the discovery of a cache of early trials and experimental pieces in a storeroom. As a result of this discovery the factory was scoured for other pieces of historical interest and the Museum was formally opened on 7th May 1906.

Etruria Museum, May 1906.  The first Museum Curator (pictured) was Isaac Cooke.

The museum collection remained at Etruria at the outbreak until the start of World War II when it was packed away and placed in storage for safekeeping. The Wedgwood Company moved from its old Etruria Works to a new green field location in 1940, but it was not until the 1950s that a new gallery was created at Barlaston. The collection was housed in a specially designed ‘Long Gallery’ (which was over 100 yards in length with cases on both sides), and re-opened to the public in 1952.

The 'Long Gallery'. The Museum was housed here from 1952 until 1975

Georgian room setting from previous museum,
opened in 1985

In 1975 the Wedgwood historical collections were re-located into a newly created Visitor Centre and Museum. The galleries comprised 3,500 square feet of display space including a small art gallery to house the painting collection.

Due to the popularity of the Wedgwood Museum and Visitor Centre the museum was re-built and the demonstration area re-furbished in 1985 to create more sympathetic displays by putting many of the objects into context in the style of a ‘living museum’. The historical tour was designed to take the visitor through three centuries of pioneering invention, design development, technical innovation and artistic achievement.

Victorian room setting  from previous museum

The early ceramic wares, in glass cases, were juxtaposed with the working environment in which they would have been created at the old Etruria Works. The later pieces reflecting the Neo-classical era were housed in a ‘Georgian’ style environment whilst the Regency period was reflected by a recreation of the Wedgwood London Showrooms as depicted in Ackermann’s Repository of Art for 1807. The Victoria production is displayed in a reconstruction of the Company’s own showrooms of the period taken from contemporary photographs. The 20th century wares are housed in cases which reflect the artistic trends of the century, such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco, whilst those objects which were created at our present factory at Barlaston are housed in a modernistic way reflecting the changing styles.

The Wedgwood Museum Moves into the 21st Century 

Due to the Company’s decision to enlarge the Visitor experience at Wedgwood the Museum is currently closed.  The Trustees, the staff and the Company are currently examining ways of providing a new area for the Museum.  We will be keeping you all informed of our progress on this exciting project - watch this space. In 1975 Lord Clark, the historian, on the opening of the previous Museum Galleries, referred to, "the uniqueness of the museum and its exhibits being in such close proximity to the traditional craft process", an alliance which will be maintained into the 21st century - a vision we wish to adopt.