THE IVY HOUSE. 123 



wood, of the "Big House," at the annual rental of 10, and 

 here, the Churchyard Works not being sufficient to meet his 

 expanding views and extending trade, he carried on the 

 manufacture of his ornamental goods, his more ordinary 

 ware, I believe, being produced at the Churchyard. At the 

 Ivy House Works he produced many things far in advance of 

 his day, and such as, when he had previously foreshadowed 

 them to his brother, were considered by him and others to 

 be wild and visionary schemes, unlikely to lead to profit, and 

 only to be indulged in at the expense of time, money, and 

 connections. 



To the Ivy House itself, too, Josiah brought home his 

 bride, and there lived happily with her for several years. 

 It was after being established here for a little time, and 

 " feeling his way" onwards, that Josiah Wedgwood proposed 

 to purchase the works, and also those of his relatives at the 

 " Big House," with which they were connected, but was 

 unsuccessful. The property, therefore, remained in the 

 hands of the " Big House" Wedgwoods until sold by their 

 descendant, Thomas Wedgwood, in 1831 and 1834. In the 

 former year the portion of the property sold for the purpose 

 of enlarging the market-place the sum paid for which was 

 1,400 consisted of four buildings on the side of the pro- 

 perty nearest to the Town Hall, which were taken down and 

 their site thrown open to the market. In 1834, it was deter- 

 mined by the market trustees to purchase and take down the 

 remainder of the buildings on this part of the Wedgwood 

 property lying between the market place and Shoe Lane, 

 and to erect the present convenient and spacious market- 

 house on its site. Thus the Ivy House, with its kilns and 

 workshops, the Turk's Head, and other buildings, were swept 

 away. The price paid for this portion of the estate was 

 2,600, making in all 3,000 paid for taking away one of 

 the most interesting memorials of Josiah Wedgwood which 

 the neighbourhood possessed. 



