Here at the Red House Glass Cone is the only surviving example of a travelling lehr, or cooling oven. It is a metal conveyor moved slowly by turning a mechanical wheel attached to chains. It is arranged in two parts, the hot side is the Lehr or annealing oven and the cold side is theContinue reading “The Glass Tax”
Category Archives: History
The Glass Tax
The Glass tax was introduced as a window tax in 1696, in the reign of William III. In 1745 the Glass Excise tax was introduced in the reign of George II, to tax all glass making including the finest flint glass made in Stourbridge. It lasted for 100 years. 1835 a Commission of enquiry intoContinue reading “The Glass Tax”
Mystery Object – Penny Licks
Glass is malleable and can be fashioned and shaped into objects that are useful and ergonomic to suit a contemporary use, when that use is no longer needed, the object becomes obsolete, forgotten, and with time recognition diminishes leaving us with ‘mystery objects’, like these ‘Penny Licks”. In the 1850’s the wealthy upper classes servedContinue reading “Mystery Object – Penny Licks”
Mystery Object – Penny Licks
Glass is malleable and can be fashioned and shaped into objects that are useful and ergonomic to suit a contemporary use, when that use is no longer needed, the object becomes obsolete, forgotten, and with time recognition diminishes leaving us with ‘mystery objects’, like these ‘Penny Licks”.
Stourbridge Glass – A History
My talk given to Warwickshire Archaeological Society, via Zoom link on the 8th December 2022, and recorded by their webmaster Peter Riley. The Society’s website can be accessed here: http://www.warwickshireias.org
The end of an era for glass learning in Stourbridge? Wolverhampton School of Art closes their Glass and ceramics courses!!
Ironically in this, the International Year of Glass, Wolverhampton announces the end of over 150 years of arts courses, which began in Stourbridge in 18511. Our glass industry dates back over 400 years, with an international heritage of making important contributions to arts and sciences. An open letter to Margaret Ayliffe the Head of WSoA,Continue reading “The end of an era for glass learning in Stourbridge? Wolverhampton School of Art closes their Glass and ceramics courses!!”
The Role of Women in the Glass Industry
Talk for the Contemporary Glass Society to commemorate International Women’s Day 2020 Celebrated each year on 8th March, the 2020 theme was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow“ Introduction: Historically women have had difficulty finding support in many art mediums. Traditionally: pottery weaving, embroidery, and china painting; female sculptors, metal casting or fabrications wereContinue reading “The Role of Women in the Glass Industry”
Thomas and George Woodall Masters of Cameo
Talk to the Contemporary Glass Society with the emphasis of Professionalism What was life like in a small community on the edge of the Black Country during the reign of Queen Victoria, a period of great Industrial progress and social advancement. Thomas and George Woodall were ordinary working men, with artistic talents which they employedContinue reading “Thomas and George Woodall Masters of Cameo”
A Mystery Uncovered
Do you believe in ghosts? many people do and occasionally information is discovered which sheds a light on hitherto unexplained phenomena. This is one such tale. It is the story of an accident which happened in 1835, causing the death of Thomas Hammonds, an apprentice at The White House Glass Works in Wordsley; Thomas wasContinue reading “A Mystery Uncovered”
A Dreadful Accident
Industrial accidents were not uncommon in the glass industry, as in many industries. They were often unrecorded and unreported unless they were so dreadful, they merited reporting in the local press. On the 9th December 1893 the County Express reported on the funerals of two men, Albert Ryder and Enoch Oliver, killed in a BrierleyContinue reading “A Dreadful Accident”
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