Two words ... don't bother.
The most disappointing day so far. I had thought that a day trip to Stoke-on-Trent would be good, it's the home of many of the big potteries (especially of interest was Wedgwood). I chose one other more modern pottery in the hope of getting some unique souvenirs.
First off to the town. Not pretty, nothing to see, well that we could find easily. Though there was a really good street art mural where we parked.
Inside the tourist information office was an interest mosaic. Called "Made in England" it is made up of 'backstamps' - the printed logos etc underneath plates, cups etc, donated by the public as broken or unwanted items.
Then off to the first pottery. Prices were ridiculous, even in the 'seconds' shop, and there were only a couple of designs that I would have entertained buying. A nice small garden out the back, with some chickens (though they had been bad as per the sign).
No successful 'bee' photos Matthew, though I did get a ladybug!
Next off to the new Wedgwood World. I had high expectations of nice gift shops with lots of Wedgwood marked non-ceramic items, some historical postcards of how production used to be or old china patterns. But instead it was going to cost a fortune to get into the museum/factory tour, there was nothing except ugly modern patterned china for sale (in a Factory Outlet so it was just rubbish), and there was nothing unique to purchase. Really disappointed.
Next was a small National Trust garden (there's a mansion but that's private for the owners) called Biddulph Grange. Unfortunately we would have been better to be there in spring when the rhododendrons etc would have been spectacular (one lone pink late bloomer only). The new bedding plants look to be just planted so they weren't very attractive. Still a few reasonable areas to see.
They had these cute sheep cookies in the garden store, think I need to have a go at making similar.
So, all in all for 3 hours' driving a disappointing day. We even ate our sandwiches in the car in the Wedgwood carpark because the weather was cold, wet and windy still (= English summer).
Tomorrow is a big travel day, we drive from Chester to Holyhead (in Wales) then get the ferry from there to Dublin, and then an hour or so drive to Dundalk.
The most disappointing day so far. I had thought that a day trip to Stoke-on-Trent would be good, it's the home of many of the big potteries (especially of interest was Wedgwood). I chose one other more modern pottery in the hope of getting some unique souvenirs.
First off to the town. Not pretty, nothing to see, well that we could find easily. Though there was a really good street art mural where we parked.
Inside the tourist information office was an interest mosaic. Called "Made in England" it is made up of 'backstamps' - the printed logos etc underneath plates, cups etc, donated by the public as broken or unwanted items.
Then off to the first pottery. Prices were ridiculous, even in the 'seconds' shop, and there were only a couple of designs that I would have entertained buying. A nice small garden out the back, with some chickens (though they had been bad as per the sign).
No successful 'bee' photos Matthew, though I did get a ladybug!
Next was a small National Trust garden (there's a mansion but that's private for the owners) called Biddulph Grange. Unfortunately we would have been better to be there in spring when the rhododendrons etc would have been spectacular (one lone pink late bloomer only). The new bedding plants look to be just planted so they weren't very attractive. Still a few reasonable areas to see.
They had these cute sheep cookies in the garden store, think I need to have a go at making similar.
So, all in all for 3 hours' driving a disappointing day. We even ate our sandwiches in the car in the Wedgwood carpark because the weather was cold, wet and windy still (= English summer).
Tomorrow is a big travel day, we drive from Chester to Holyhead (in Wales) then get the ferry from there to Dublin, and then an hour or so drive to Dundalk.
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