The “Ivy House” might originally have been roofed with thatch or mud, like the other buildings of the district, but it was afterwards tiled, as shown in the engraving. In front was a small garden enclosed with a low wall, and a brick pathway led from the gate to the doorway. The front faced the open space called the “Green Bank,” and adjoining was a low, half-timbered, thickly-thatched building, afterwards known as the “Turk’s Head,” and beyond this again was the maypole, on “Maypole Bank,” on the site now occupied by the Town Hall. At the opposite side of the house from the Turk’s Head was a gateway leading into the yard of the works, which made up one side of Shoe Lane, the pot-works of John and Thomas Wedgwood, with which they were connected, being on the opposite side of the lane. These works and house have the reputation of being the first roofed with tiles in the district--the usual roofing being thatch, or oftener still, mud. At the Ivy House Josiah Wedgwood carried on the manufacture of his ornamental goods, his more ordinary ware, I believe, being produced at the Churchyard. At the Ivy House works he produced many things far in advance of his day, and to the Ivy House itself he brought home his bride, and there lived happily with her for several years. * * * * * _Lakin and Poole._--Messrs. Lakin and Poole were in business in Burslem, and doing a very extensive trade, at the latter end of the last century. Their billhead in October, 1792, was simply “Burslem, Staffordshire, Bought of Lakin & Poole,” and in the front of the heading was a garter and star, surrounding a vase, on which was “Manufacturers of Staffordshire Earthenware. Table Services Enamelled or Painted with Arms, &c., &c.” On the garter “Burnished gold got up as in London.”[47] In 1793 (July) a new billhead was used--“Burslem, Staffordshire, Bought of Lakin and Poole. Blue Painted Table Services, &c., and Coloured in all its various Branches.” At the front is a standing figure of Commerce, with an anchor, against which is an oval tablet with “Table Services Enamelled with Arms, Crests, Cyphers, &c., &c.,” to which the figure is pointing. In many of the billheads I have seen the word “Painted” is altered to “Printed” with a pen, and the word “Ware” is written between (over) “coloured” and “in.” This heading was used till the early part of 1794.[48] In December, 1794, they used a written billhead. On the 14th of February, 1795, it is announced in a letter that “Mr. Thomas Shrigley[49] has joined us in our manufactory of Earthenware, and that for the future the business will be carried on under the firm of _Poole, Lakin and Shrigley_.” In May, 1795, the billhead (written) is “Burslem, Bought of Lakin, Poole & Shrigley,” the managing man being R. B. Swift. This firm continued until the end of 1795, but in January, 1796, another change took place, the firm now being simply “Poole and Shrigley”--Mr. Lakin either having died or withdrawn.