Etruria Industrial Museum
Encyclopedia
The Etruria Industrial Museum is located in Etruria, Staffordshire
in England. Located along the Caldon Canal
, the museum is a Grade II* listed building which includes a working steam engine
called "Princess". The museum buildings were originally a bone
and flint
mill built in 1857 to grind materials for the pottery
industry. Inside visitors can see displays on the history of the site and original machinery. After a period of restoration, started in 1978, the museum was opened by Fred Dibnah
in 1991.
On the first weekend of each month the museum's 1903 coal-fired boiler provides steam to operate Princess which then turns the grinding machine
ry.
The Etruria Canals Festival takes place annually at Etruria Industrial Museum on the first weekend in June.
Etruria, Staffordshire
Etruria is a suburb of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.-Home of Wedgwood:Etruria was the fourth and penultimate site for the Wedgwood pottery business. Josiah Wedgwood, who was previously based in Burslem, opened his new works in 1769. It was named after the Italian district of Etruria,...
in England. Located along the Caldon Canal
Caldon Canal
The Caldon Canal , opened in 1779, runs 18 miles from Etruria, in Stoke-on-Trent where it leaves the Trent and Mersey Canal at the summit level, to Froghall, Staffordshire...
, the museum is a Grade II* listed building which includes a working steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
called "Princess". The museum buildings were originally a bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
and flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
mill built in 1857 to grind materials for the pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
industry. Inside visitors can see displays on the history of the site and original machinery. After a period of restoration, started in 1978, the museum was opened by Fred Dibnah
Fred Dibnah
Frederick "Fred" Dibnah MBE , born in Bolton, was an English steeplejack and eccentric with a keen interest in mechanical engineering who became a cult television personality....
in 1991.
On the first weekend of each month the museum's 1903 coal-fired boiler provides steam to operate Princess which then turns the grinding machine
Grinding machine
A grinding machine, often shortened to grinder, is a machine tool used for grinding, which is a type of machining using an abrasive wheel as the cutting tool...
ry.
The Etruria Canals Festival takes place annually at Etruria Industrial Museum on the first weekend in June.
External links
- Etruria Industrial Museum – official site
- Jesse Shirley's Flint and Bone Mill