The Wedgwood company began its life as a family business established over 350 years ago by the great-grandfather of Josiah Wedgwood I. In all those years, Wedgwood has been based at five factory sites, and it has been located at two of those sites - Etruria and Barlaston - for almost 250 years. Both Etruria and Barlaton, established by the two great visionaries in the company's history, Josiah I and Josiah V, were model factores of their respective eras.