Wedgwood is celebrating its 260th anniversary in 2019 by presenting show gardens at both the RHS Flower Shows at Chelsea and Chatsworth, along with the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory, which will serve Wedgwood’s Wonderlust Tea at both shows.
The Wedgwood Garden at Chelsea (May 21-25) is designed by award-winning UK designer Jo Thompson to reflect the entrepreneurial, innovative and creative spirit of the company’s founder Josiah Wedgwood (1730 – 1795).
With soaring pavilions a key focus, the garden will bring Wedgwood’s 260 year history to life by setting its foundations in Etruria, an 18th century Staffordshire village that Josiah created for his workers. Built in 1769, it was known as ‘the factory in the garden’, featuring green space alongside a canal. This will be reflected with a watercourse flowing through multiple levels in the Chelsea garden.
Inspiration for Jo’s design was drawn from a trip to the Wedgwood museum in Staffordshire where she learned about Wedgwood’s pioneering creation of Etruria. She also drew on her own experience of living in Rome, which ignited her career in garden design.
Jo commented: “There’s a certain irresistible magic and nostalgia associated with such an incredible past and I welcome the opportunity to apply a modern interpretation to the garden and to draw visitors’ attention to Wedgwood’s pioneering and positive force in corporate responsibility.”
Wedgwood has close historical links with the RHS. In fact, yesterday (March 7) marked the anniversary of the founding of the RHS by John Wedgwood, son of Josiah Wedgwood in 1804. The Wedgwood Garden at Chatsworth (June 5-9), designed by Jamie Butterworth, has been inspired by John Wedgwood’s vision of using the power ofhorticulture and plants to connect people and unite communities.
Jamie has drawn inspiration from John Wedgwood’s personal garden and plant journals. The Chatsworth garden will include the sky blue colour of Wedgwood’s famous Jasperware, as well as wild strawberry plants that echo the brand’s bestselling Wild Strawberry pattern.
Wedgwood’s 260th celebrations also include the launch of an anniversary edition of Wild Strawberry tableware – Wild Strawberry Gold, which features gold foliage and butterflies,
Top: The statue of Josiah Wedgwood at the World of Wedgwood Visitor Centre.
