430 



THE GRAND TRUNK (ANAL. 



TART V- 



such as knife-hafts, boxes, and sundry curious little 

 articles for domestic use. He joined in several successive 

 partnerships with other workmen, but made compara- 

 tively small progress until he began business on his 

 own account, in 1759, in a humble cottage near the 

 Market House in Burslem, known by the name of the 

 Ivy House. He there pursued his manufacture of knife- 











IVY HOUSE, BURSLEM, WEDGWOOD'S FIRST POTTERY. 1 

 [From Ward's ' History of Stoke-upon-Trent '] 



handles and other small wares, striving at the same time 

 to acquire such a knowledge of practical chemistry as 

 might enable him to improve the quality of his work in 

 respect of colour, glaze, and durability. Success attended 

 Wedgwood's diligent and persistent efforts, and lie pro- 

 ceeded from one stage of improvement to another, until 

 at length, after a course of about thirty years' labour, he 

 firmly established a new branch of industry, which not 

 only added greatly to the conveniences of domestic life, 

 but proved a source of remunerative employment to 



1 The Ivy House, in which Wedg- 

 wood began business on his own ac- 

 count, is the cottage shown on the 



right-hand of the engraving. The 

 other house is the old " Turk's Head." 



