This is my set of 'good' dishes. It is from Wedgwood's Edme Plain also known as Queen's Ware. We went on a trip to England many years ago and had a route planned out to visit friends in Yorkshire followed by a few days in the Lake District and then on to Scotland. It was May and there was a freak snow storm which caused us to change our plans. We had already been touring the home of the Bronte Sisters, James Harriot country, both homes of William Wordworth and Beatrix's Potter's Hilltop Farm. When the kind people at the last B&B in Keswick told us that the roads to Scotland were impassable, we changed our plans to continue on a 'literary tour' going down to Chawton to see Jane Austen's house.
On the way, I noticed a small red notation in the atlas saying Wedgwood. I convinced my husband to take the exit and see if the factory was open to the public. It was to my delight and there was a factory shop. I had always dreamed of owning a set of Wedgwood but it was simply too expensive for us. At the factory shop, we found a set of Edme Plain dishes that were marked at 1/3 of the normal price. I was thrilled. We asked the sales lady if they could be very well packed as they had to travel home safely on the ferry. She was very kind and did a wonderful job of making sure we could get them home safely. She commented that they never have the Edme Plain complete like this and we were very lucky. I was in heaven knowing I was able to get them.
The story takes another twist which I will tell you about in my next blog entry.....
On the way, I noticed a small red notation in the atlas saying Wedgwood. I convinced my husband to take the exit and see if the factory was open to the public. It was to my delight and there was a factory shop. I had always dreamed of owning a set of Wedgwood but it was simply too expensive for us. At the factory shop, we found a set of Edme Plain dishes that were marked at 1/3 of the normal price. I was thrilled. We asked the sales lady if they could be very well packed as they had to travel home safely on the ferry. She was very kind and did a wonderful job of making sure we could get them home safely. She commented that they never have the Edme Plain complete like this and we were very lucky. I was in heaven knowing I was able to get them.
The story takes another twist which I will tell you about in my next blog entry.....
4 comments:
Your dishes are beautiful Heidi, and I loved reading the story of how you found them!
Nancy
Heidi,
These dishes are beautiful! Now, I WOULD be extremely careful with them, they would make me a bit nervous!
gorgeous!
diane
They are beautiful, Heidi! Simple white dishes are so elegant.
I love your dishes! My mom is from Yorkshire and my Uncle lives in the Lake District. I'm hoping to make a trip to England this summer. My plan is to go for 2 weeks, staying a week with a friend in London and another week in Yorkshire with my Aunt. But after reading your post, I'm dying to add another week and stay with my Uncle in the Lake District. I'll have to see if I can talk my evil ex into taking care of our son that long. Thanks for the great post.
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