Spent a good part of the day at the Wedgwood visitor centre. They have a small museum and demonstration area in the factory where we watched and talked to throwers, turners, slip pot makers, hand painters, jewellery makers, figurine painters and the makers of those raised areas on Wedgwood. A very interesting to do. Turns out that most of the skills demonstrated were being done by the last or the last of a few craftsmen left at the factory. Wedgwood is multi- national and not developing craftspeople for the future. There is also a big museum all about Josiah Wedgwood the founder of the company and important person in developing potteries at the start of the industrial revolution. The museum seems to have an example of every thing ever made at wedgwood. Too much to take in.
Late afternoon left there for the village of Barlaston as a convenient place to meet Robert & Mary. As you can see from above it was just around the corner. Had dinner at The Plume of Feathers (ST12 9DH) a bit of a walk through the village and that was it for the day.
Saturday 3 July. 4 miles, 8 locks.
Not an early start. Needed to introduce the crew into canal time. Typical country canal as we headed south. Diana passing on her knowledge on lock operations. At one lock she heard there was a market in Stone but it was 4 locks away so had lunch on boat instead. before proceeding. Turned out market was only a short walk away. Proceeded through the locks, all moorings full because of the market, eventually rafted up alongside another boat not to far from town. Walked in to see the last of the market being cleared away. The Star Inn (ST15 8UW) for dinner. This is the place where people gather to watch, advise & help boats through the adjacent lock. Great entertainment.
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