Sheet Glassmakers in Sunderland 1860s/70s

[mary elms]

Does anyone know if there is any document or directory that lists or mentions in the text the various companies making glass in Sunderland in the late 1860s / early 1870s?

[Mapstone]

Does anyone know if there is any document or directory that lists or mentions in the text the various companies making glass in Sunderland in the late 1860s / early 1870s?

Most of the Glassworks in Sunderland made bottles and ornamental ware, but the Wear Glass Works, Trimdon Street. James Hartley & Co. 1837-1896 produced patent rolled plate, sheet and stained glass. In 1863 they produced one third of all the sheet glass consumed in England. The works covered a large area and employed 700 men.
For directories see the Digital Library of Historical http://www.historicaldirectories.org/

[mary elms]

Yes, it's definately sheet glass not bottles - he never calls himself a glassmaker, it's always a sheet glassmaker - so the Wear Glass Works sounds like a good place to start. Thanks.

I'd already looked at the Leiceseter University site - it's a great resource - but there's nothing that quite fits the period and location at the same time. I was hoping that someone might just know of something that hadn't made it into their collection. A slender chance probably but ..........

Thanks again,

Mary.

[Rod Neep]

These are the glass makers in Durham in 1858 (Post Office Directory)




From the Archive CD Books

Regards
Rod

[Mapstone]

These are the glass works in Sunderland around 1870.

Laing, Horn, Scott & Co.
Will Kirk & Co. Ayres Quay Bottle Works.
Wear (or Wearmouth) Crown Glass Co.
Southwick Bottle Co.
Cornhill Flint Glass Works, Southwick.
Sunderland Glass Co. Bishopwearmouth Panns.
Scott & Horn.
Wear Glass Bottle Co., also known as Deptford Bottle Works.
Wear Glass Works, James Hartley & Co.
Wear Flint Glass Works, Trimdon Street.

[Docwras]

Mary, you may find some info about your glassmakers on the National Glass Centre website (there're some pages on the history of glassmaking in Sunderland - follow the Education links) http://www.nationalglasscentre.com/

You could also ask on the Glass Message Forum (http://www.glassmessages.com) if anyone has any info about such glass works (there's a whole range of people who sub to that board. from glass beginners like me, to dealers, working glassblowers and retired glassmen).

[Mapstone]

There is an engraving of Hartley's Glass Works at
http://aesica.dur.ac.uk/pip/singlezo...2636&ref1=2029
It is a birds-eye view of the Wear glass works (established 1836) at Sunderland, showing large factory halls next to the terrace houses of the factory workers, railways, and numerous blast furnaces.

[mary elms]

Wow - I only went away for a day!
EDIT - [Actually, looking at the above not even that!]

Thanks for all the links and for the company lists. I love the picture Stan - it really gives a feel for the scale of it all. And if I disappear from the forums for a while it's because I'm busy exploring the glass forum.

I'm looking forward to finding out more about the kind of life my gg Grandfather lived. Lots of leads to follow up!

Mary

[TerryK]

There was also a glass making manufacturer in Easington employing over five hundred
Regards
Terry

[mary elms]

Thanks Terry. I'm beginning to see that coal and glass were major industries in the area. I gather the Hartley's alone were producing about a third of the countiy's sheet glass at this time!

Mary.