The work of pottery firm Wedgwood will be showcased in a museum near its Staffs factory after the project received a �6m lottery windfall. The �10m development in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, will house a priceless collection of pottery, manuscripts and pattern books from the 18th century.
Building work on the complex will start in the New Year and the museum is expected to open in 2007.
More than 100,000 visitors from across the world are expected each year.
'Magnificent tribute'
Gaye Blake Roberts, museum director, said: "The announcement is fantastic news and means in less than three years we have raised �9.8m to make this project possible."
Development agency Advantage West Midlands donated �1m to the project. Contributions also came from the Staffordshire Environment Trust and other organisations.
Wedgwood's 8,500-piece collection of pottery will go on public display in the new museum for the first time since the old museum closed in 1999.
George Stonier, chairman of the Wedgwood Museum Trust, said: "This will be the finest museum of Wedgwood in the world, a magnificent tribute to Josiah Wedgwood, one of the greatest innovators in history."
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