CHAP, ix Founding of Etruria 85 



the fortune of his wife, he made a proposal to Thomas 

 and John Wedgwood to purchase the Ivy House and 

 the Big House, which belonged to them, for the purpose 

 of extending his works. But they declined his applica- 

 tion, and he was obliged to look elsewhere for the 

 necessary site. He still continued, however, to carry on 

 his manufactory at the Brick House works, which had 

 for some time been in his possession as tenant. 



Having been foiled in his endeavours to confine his 

 pottery works to Burslem, he made inquiries for an 

 estate on which to erect improved buildings, as well as 

 dwellings for himself and family, and for his work- 

 people and their families. He had no desire to remove 

 his buildings far from Burslem, for he took a great 

 interest in the well-being of the population. Being 

 greatly attached to the cause of education, he subscribed 

 liberally to a public school, and he never ceased to 

 devote himself to the opening up of the turnpike roads 

 and canals of Staffordshire. 



At length he fixed his mind upon a suitable 

 estate about two miles from Burslem, nearly in the 

 centre of the potteries. It lay near the course of the 

 Grand Trunk Canal, then in course of survey ; so that 

 a branch might easily be constructed to bring the pro- 

 posed new works into communication with the canal. 

 The place was originally called the "Bidgehouse 

 Estate." It was in the possession of a life tenant, and 

 the reversion was with a gentleman then in Ireland. 

 With his usual prompt decision, Wedgwood deter- 



