Extension: The Wedgwood Institute, Burslem

THE WEDGWOOD INSTITUTE, BURSLEM - A few years ago a movement was set on foot for the purpose of presenting Mr. William Woodall with a testimonial in acknowledgment of his services in connexion with the erection of the Wedgwood Institute and the work carried on within its walls. Upwards of £400 was subscribed, but Mr. Woodall not only declined to accept the testimonial for his own benefit, but with great generosity promised whatever might be needed beyond that amount for the purpose of erecting and fitting up additional rooms for a museum and other pressing requirements, on condition that the burgesses would simultaneously undertake the repair and renovation of the existing building by subscription. This renovation, involving a few slight structural alterations, has been effected, and the museum has been built at a total cost of about £1,000 by Mr. W. Cooke, from the plans of Mr. G. B. Ford, architect. The new portion of the Institute is approached from the grand staircase by a spacious corridor, and comprises a museum on the first floor 25 ft. 8 in. by 17 ft., with a smaller room 18 ft. by 10 ft. 6 in. Underneath these are rooms which can be used for general purposes. The committee are thus enabled to remove the various works of art from the reading-room to a place suitable for them, and at the same time the comfort and convenience of the readers will be increased. The upper rooms are lighted from the top. The floors are of fire-proof construction, laid with encaustic tiles. The new buildings were formally opened on the 11th inst., with an exhibition of the works of George Mason, A.R.A., and James Holland, both of them artists connected with North Staffordshire. [Builder 20 September 1879 page 1059]

Reference           Builder 20 September 1879 page 1059