A proposal for an Institute that would honour the memory of Josiah Wedgwood was made by the Earl of Carlisle at a town meeting in Burselm on the 27 January 1859. This called for funds for 'the purpose of creating a public building to be called "The Wedgwood Institute," comprising a Free Library, a School of Art and a museum. Its function would be provide education in science and art for local students. Funds were raised by public subscription to make arts, science and literature available to all. The foundation stone of the new institute was laid by then Chancellor of the Exchequer William Ewart Gladstone on 26 October 1863, situated in Queen Street, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The building opened on 21 April 1869; the School of Art and Science in October 1869 and the Free Library in 1870. The Institute continued as a successful seat of learning through most of the 20th Century before becoming an annex for Staffordshire University and most recently Stoke-on-Trent College. In 1993 the building was inspected in the light of new fire escape regulations and its use was consequently restricted to the ground floor. The College ceased using of the Institute later that year leaving only the Library in residence.