160 THE WEDGWOODS. 



into the pool, whence it got into the body of the ware, and, 

 in conjunction with the flint and clay, together with the 

 lime which generally adheres to flint stones, formed a fusible 

 body that arrived at a state . of vitrification with a lower 

 degree of heat than was requisite to prepare this body for 

 the salt glaze. TJns discovery induced them to make 

 another trial with purer water ; and in this they succeeded 

 beyond expectation. The Wedgwoods followed up their 

 success with unremitting diligence ; and shortly afterwards 

 built a new and commodious manufactory, where they had 

 a supply of good water. This was near the Windmill, 

 invented and erected by the celebrated Brindley for reducing 

 flint stones to a fine powder by grinding them in water, and 

 thereby preventing the pernicious effects upon the health of 

 the men employed in preparing the flint according to the 

 old method, by pounding it by hand in a dry state in a 

 mortar. The fine dust of the flint getting into the lungs 

 produced coughs and consumptions, which frequently proved 

 fatal. This building, censured at the time as having been 

 upon too extensive a scale, was the first earthenware manu- 

 factory in the Potteries not covered with thatch. In 1750 

 they erected an excellent and substantial dwelling-house 

 adjoining their manufactory, which so far exceeded the 

 other houses in the Potteries, in point of size and elegance, 

 that it then was, and now is distinguished by the appella- 

 tion of the ' Big House ;' and in the year 1763 these gentle- 

 men retired from business in the possession of an ample 

 fortune, the just and honourable reward of their industry 

 and integrity." 



The "Big House" stands at the corner of Wedgwood 

 Street and Market Place, facing down Swan Square, from 

 which place, and from the Waterloo Road, it forms a con- 

 spicuous object. It stands back from the street, with a 

 walled enclosure in front. The old pot-works are at the 

 rear, and are now occupied as builder's premises, by Messrs. 

 Harley and Deane. The property, I believe, still belongs 

 to the Wedgwood family. 



