Bridge Inn, Etruria

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No 58 - The Bridge Inn, Etruria

"Complete with a Methodist Chapel, this street (Lord Street) which formed the original Etruria contains old-established shops, many of which have been carried on by the same families for generations. Here, then, are to be found at least five provision shops ; a very old established meat trader's business ; a post office that was occupied until recent years by a lady whose uncle was postmaster before her (Mrs. B. E. Oldacre, now in well-earned retirement in Wales, was the first telegraph girl in Etruria and her reminiscences will be found in other chapters). This Post Office has recently been modernised, but when last viewed the old bottle glass was still to be seen in one of the windows of the scullery.

Here, too, will be found the modern shoe shop kept by an Etruscan famous throughout England for his choral work. In addition, there is a very old-established cobbler's shop, where one's shoes may be mended with true Etruscan thoroughness.

The village street is complete with two barbers' shops and five village inns, namely, the Bridge Inn, now sunk well below the level of the canal ; the Etruria Inn ; the Lamb at the corner of Forge Lane ; the Vine ; and the Railway Inn. In addition, there are several other small shops, perhaps the most interesting of which is the little gas-lit establishment, still under the name of Smallwoods, which still deals exclusively in Wedgwood ware, despite the departure of the firm.

This small shop has sold exquisite Wedgwood ware for several generations. The pleasantly set out window does not, owing to prevailing austere conditions, present the splendid array once to be seen, but it keeps the name of Wedgwood to the forefront in Etruria."

Warrillow - History of Etruria 1952

"For over a century, this popular canalside pub in Etruria provided refreshment and a venue for conversation for a variety of people. Although it no longer exists, I am sure its memory will linger on for a great many years. With the old Hanley-Newcastle packhorse road at the front, the canal running alongside and the famous Wedgwood factory at the rear, it must have been a welcome retreat for drivers, bargees and bottle-kiln workers alike.

There was the small, dark, back room, with its green-painted, high-backed, wooden seats lining the plain walls, and the solitary cast-iron table standing on the well-scrubbed red quarry floor. In complete contrast the larger room was well lighted, with the windows on the outside wall illuminating the bar and shelves. There were bottles of all colours, shapes and sizes containing a wide selection of drinks, and many of the original fixtures adorned the walls. It was a great little pub with lots of character and atmosphere.

While on the subject of pubs, it may be interesting to mention a local drinking wager I was told about. It seems that not so many years ago there were 14 pubs on Smallthorne Bank, between Ford Green at the bottom and Smallthorne at the top. The locals of the period would spy their chance and bet some unsuspecting stranger that he could not drink a thimble-full of the ale in the first pub, two in the second, four in the third, eight in the fourth, 16 in the fifth, and so on, until he had visited all 14. This intrigued me, so, using an old silver thimble and water, I carried out a little experiment. I estimated that if the poor chap was able to manage all 14 pubs, he would have consumed 16,383 thimbles of ale; with 186 thimbles to the pint, he would have had to drink just over 88 pints. He would have had to visit eight pubs before he had consumed one pint, but, by the 10th, he would have drunk five-and-a-half pints, after the 12th over 22, and after the 14th, just over 88! It would seem to have been a pretty safe bet!"

Neville Malkin 30th June 1976

photo of Lord Street taken from the Etruria Bridge the Bridge Inn and Etruria Inn
are on the right with the first of the Wedgwood workers cottages

This view taken from the Trent & Mersey Canal
- the roadway in front is the road from Lord Street to the
frontage of the Wedgwood factory alongside the canal.

next: St. Matthew's Church, Etruria
previous: The Roundhouse, Etruria
contents: index of buildings in Etruria