Palenque's UK: Wedgwood, Iron Bridge Gorge, Shrewsbury & Luplow
Jul 19th, 2005, 11:56 AM
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Palenque's UK: Wedgwood, Iron Bridge Gorge, Shrewsbury & Luplow
I love the UK the most of any country - here i'll report on three places i recently visited from a Shrewsbury base. As always i enjoy getting others impressions of these places.
WEDGWOOD FACTORY
Though the gritty industrial brewery town (Bass Ale) of Stoke-on-Trent would hardly be appealing to anyone - the city centre being a prime example of the 60s blah school of tacky shopping malls and blah concrete - one reason to come here for ceramics buffs is to visit the famous Wedgwood factory in an even more gritty suburb. First of all to whet your appetite for the Wedgwood, named after a bloke named Wedgwood i think, visit the ceramics museum in the town centre, which not only have a load of Wedgwood stuff but also its prestigious counterparts like Meissen and Limoges stuff.
The factory tour lets you see the craftsfolk at work, from sketching the designs on the vases, dishes, etc. to the painters, who just paint in the lines. Apparently outsourcing has effected Wedgwood as well and there was talk about foreign production - this kind of seemed like a token operation. Few of the craftsfolk seemed highly skilled - more like an assembly line. And the labor force was hardly content - there had just been some labor strife and the tour guide, a worker, actually was quite negative about the working conditions. But it was a nice visit to see the Wedgwood being fabricated - and all the famous Christmas dishes on display. We took a bus from the city centre to the factory, about two miles out.
NEXT: IRON BRIDGE GORGE
WEDGWOOD FACTORY
Though the gritty industrial brewery town (Bass Ale) of Stoke-on-Trent would hardly be appealing to anyone - the city centre being a prime example of the 60s blah school of tacky shopping malls and blah concrete - one reason to come here for ceramics buffs is to visit the famous Wedgwood factory in an even more gritty suburb. First of all to whet your appetite for the Wedgwood, named after a bloke named Wedgwood i think, visit the ceramics museum in the town centre, which not only have a load of Wedgwood stuff but also its prestigious counterparts like Meissen and Limoges stuff.
The factory tour lets you see the craftsfolk at work, from sketching the designs on the vases, dishes, etc. to the painters, who just paint in the lines. Apparently outsourcing has effected Wedgwood as well and there was talk about foreign production - this kind of seemed like a token operation. Few of the craftsfolk seemed highly skilled - more like an assembly line. And the labor force was hardly content - there had just been some labor strife and the tour guide, a worker, actually was quite negative about the working conditions. But it was a nice visit to see the Wedgwood being fabricated - and all the famous Christmas dishes on display. We took a bus from the city centre to the factory, about two miles out.
NEXT: IRON BRIDGE GORGE
Jul 19th, 2005, 12:32 PM
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For details on Wedgwood and the museum: www.wedgwoodmuseum.org.uk
Jul 19th, 2005, 02:03 PM
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Few followers of this board are gullible dupes.
But, while the rest of this PalQ journey will cover some of England's loveliest places, let's be clear about Waterford Wedgwood plc - the heavily loss-making Irish company that owns Royal Doulton, Wedgwood and Waterford Crystal.
As PalQ suspected, these are businesses that mostly manufacture where manufacturing is efficient. Fine from the point of view of customers and any kind of social justice (far better after all that the jobs should go to places like the Czech Republic than places like England and Ireland that need the jobs a lot less).
But don't delude yourselves that the "factory" tours in Stoke or Waterford City are trips round places that make serious quantities of the crockery concerned. Look on these "factory" tours in much the same way you'd regard a craft museum.
Because that's what these places are.
But, while the rest of this PalQ journey will cover some of England's loveliest places, let's be clear about Waterford Wedgwood plc - the heavily loss-making Irish company that owns Royal Doulton, Wedgwood and Waterford Crystal.
As PalQ suspected, these are businesses that mostly manufacture where manufacturing is efficient. Fine from the point of view of customers and any kind of social justice (far better after all that the jobs should go to places like the Czech Republic than places like England and Ireland that need the jobs a lot less).
But don't delude yourselves that the "factory" tours in Stoke or Waterford City are trips round places that make serious quantities of the crockery concerned. Look on these "factory" tours in much the same way you'd regard a craft museum.
Because that's what these places are.
Jul 20th, 2005, 05:42 AM
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Actually the tour i took was at Royal Doulton, not Wedgwood as i think on it - this is one of just several 'Potteries' tours available in Stoke, a collection of six communities - a special pass can be bought good for visits at all and a special 'potteries bus' circulates between them.
Flanner- By linking the Potteries tour with Iron Bridge, Shrewsbury and Ludlow (not Luplow - typo) i inadvertantly gave it a better connotation by association than it deserves - i was just grouping day trips from Shrewsbury. Even though the tour was interesting to me - in part because of the old factory building - i would not highly recommend going out of your way for.
Flanner- By linking the Potteries tour with Iron Bridge, Shrewsbury and Ludlow (not Luplow - typo) i inadvertantly gave it a better connotation by association than it deserves - i was just grouping day trips from Shrewsbury. Even though the tour was interesting to me - in part because of the old factory building - i would not highly recommend going out of your way for.
Jul 21st, 2005, 10:07 AM
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IRON BRIDGE GORGE
One of the most fascinating things i've seen in the UK is Ironbridge Gorge and its many vestiges of the earliest days of the Industrial Revolution. The focal point of the gorge is the Iron Bridge, the world's first cast iron span that was used as a showcase for the abilities of iron processed here in a new way that made it more suitable for construction projects like bridges. The Iron Bridge spans the River Severn today as it has since 1779 - featuring a graceful arch you can walk across it and in the toll booth is a small museum of the bridge.
In a several square-mile area surrounding the bridge are the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, which as a whole along with the bridge has been annointed by UNESCO as one of its prestigious World Heritage sites.
You can buy a pass good for all sites and at least on weekends and bank holidays a bus circulates among them. At other times there is some bus service between site areas and footpaths link the all - often pleasant footpaths. Iron Bridge is 5 miles south of Telford, a stop on the main rail line London-Shrewsbury, with buses from there (actually you have to walk thru the shopping mall from the station to get the buses). There are also buses from Shrewsbury to Iron Bridge (the town by the bridge). Next post i'll give a brief description of the several different museum parts - more info: www.ironbridge.org.uk
One of the most fascinating things i've seen in the UK is Ironbridge Gorge and its many vestiges of the earliest days of the Industrial Revolution. The focal point of the gorge is the Iron Bridge, the world's first cast iron span that was used as a showcase for the abilities of iron processed here in a new way that made it more suitable for construction projects like bridges. The Iron Bridge spans the River Severn today as it has since 1779 - featuring a graceful arch you can walk across it and in the toll booth is a small museum of the bridge.
In a several square-mile area surrounding the bridge are the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, which as a whole along with the bridge has been annointed by UNESCO as one of its prestigious World Heritage sites.
You can buy a pass good for all sites and at least on weekends and bank holidays a bus circulates among them. At other times there is some bus service between site areas and footpaths link the all - often pleasant footpaths. Iron Bridge is 5 miles south of Telford, a stop on the main rail line London-Shrewsbury, with buses from there (actually you have to walk thru the shopping mall from the station to get the buses). There are also buses from Shrewsbury to Iron Bridge (the town by the bridge). Next post i'll give a brief description of the several different museum parts - more info: www.ironbridge.org.uk
Jul 21st, 2005, 10:52 AM
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Shropshire is the most beautiful county and the most under-rated in England. It is a county in two halves - the north being almost totally flat (save the Wrekin), and south from Wenlock Edge it is stunning in its unspoilt and timeless beauty.
For several years I lived 5 miles outside Ludlow, and even though I now live in the lovely south Cotswolds I miss Shropshire very much. Previously I had been in sales and travelled extensively to every village in the county, so I feel I know it quite well. The border castles, although in ruins, are still powerful and leave one with a sense of awe. More so if you know a little English/Welsh history of the 11th and 12th centuries.
The county is still so unspoilt because it is quite a trek from London. Although realistically, Ludlow is only 45 minutes from Birmingham or Worcester, it is easily accessible for those with the time to spare to discover its' secret.
Stoke-on-Trent is in another county (Staffordshire) and has little going for it IMO. If you want to do a porcelain factory tour, Worcester is the place for it.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the Ludlow part of the report to remind me of what I miss!
For several years I lived 5 miles outside Ludlow, and even though I now live in the lovely south Cotswolds I miss Shropshire very much. Previously I had been in sales and travelled extensively to every village in the county, so I feel I know it quite well. The border castles, although in ruins, are still powerful and leave one with a sense of awe. More so if you know a little English/Welsh history of the 11th and 12th centuries.
The county is still so unspoilt because it is quite a trek from London. Although realistically, Ludlow is only 45 minutes from Birmingham or Worcester, it is easily accessible for those with the time to spare to discover its' secret.
Stoke-on-Trent is in another county (Staffordshire) and has little going for it IMO. If you want to do a porcelain factory tour, Worcester is the place for it.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the Ludlow part of the report to remind me of what I miss!
Aug 29th, 2005, 09:01 AM
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LUDLOW
Ludlow was a surprise to me - was staying in Shrewsbury and had an afternoon free and a railpass so hopped the train south - was pleasantly surprised by this lovely town nestled in a verdant cacoon, situated at the joining of two rivers. Ludlow has the castle of your dreams and lots of half-timbered houses and old streets ( Broad Street 'ranks with the finest old streets in England' according to the Blue Guide and Corve St is not far behind. There is a great church with fine stained glass and swell market square - the thing that struck me about Ludlow was its inordinate number of tea shops and restaurants - apparently, but i'm not much a food critic, Ludlow has some extremely highly rated restaurants - perhaps a Michelin three star eatery or at least a two-star one in this surprising location.
Ludlow - a fine fine old town.
Ludlow was a surprise to me - was staying in Shrewsbury and had an afternoon free and a railpass so hopped the train south - was pleasantly surprised by this lovely town nestled in a verdant cacoon, situated at the joining of two rivers. Ludlow has the castle of your dreams and lots of half-timbered houses and old streets ( Broad Street 'ranks with the finest old streets in England' according to the Blue Guide and Corve St is not far behind. There is a great church with fine stained glass and swell market square - the thing that struck me about Ludlow was its inordinate number of tea shops and restaurants - apparently, but i'm not much a food critic, Ludlow has some extremely highly rated restaurants - perhaps a Michelin three star eatery or at least a two-star one in this surprising location.
Ludlow - a fine fine old town.
Aug 29th, 2005, 09:42 AM
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Thanks for responding, PalQ.
I believe that south Shropshire is truly a jewel in England's crown. John Betjeman said Ludlow was "the most perfect town in England". And many, many young men went off to the trenches of WW1 with a tiny copy of Housman's "A Shropshire Lad" in their breast pockets. Reading it (esp part III) becomes more moving and evocative once you have been there yourself...
http://www.bigeye.com/housman.htm
A E Housman is buried in Ludlow Church (itself a fine example of perpendicular architecture), in the cradle of his "blue remembered hills".
Yes, there are at least two Michelin starred restaurants in Ludlow - lucky for visitors and the locals!
In the 2004-05 Best of British Awards, Ludlow was voted Best Country Town.
www.ludlow.org.uk/
I believe that south Shropshire is truly a jewel in England's crown. John Betjeman said Ludlow was "the most perfect town in England". And many, many young men went off to the trenches of WW1 with a tiny copy of Housman's "A Shropshire Lad" in their breast pockets. Reading it (esp part III) becomes more moving and evocative once you have been there yourself...
http://www.bigeye.com/housman.htm
A E Housman is buried in Ludlow Church (itself a fine example of perpendicular architecture), in the cradle of his "blue remembered hills".
Yes, there are at least two Michelin starred restaurants in Ludlow - lucky for visitors and the locals!
In the 2004-05 Best of British Awards, Ludlow was voted Best Country Town.
www.ludlow.org.uk/
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