Hixon History Society

In October, John Turnock gave a talk on The history and techniques of Glass Making. Glass has always been found in nature, but the first glass created by humans can be dated to about 4,000 years ago, when craftsmen working in Mesopotamia (Iraq, Syria) discovered the art of mixing quartz (silica) sand, soda, and limestone to make glass. The Egyptians made little beads, amulets and small jars, and the Syrians invented glass blowing. Glass-making centres began to emerge in more places in the Mediterranean world, and was brought to the UK by the Romans in the 2nd Century.

The ingredients are heated in a wood-fired furnace to over 1,600°C, then shaping the molten liquid and slowly cooling it (annealing). The molten glass is shaped by methods like rolling for flat sheets, glass-blowing for objects, or casting for solid forms.

In the late 16th century, new furnace technologies and materials improved the quality of glass, but so much wood was needed that an Act of Parliament forbade its use- in order to build ships! When Coal became the popular fuel, the 19th century saw a massive expansion in glass production. Cone shaped Glass Houses proliferated (see picture above) and Stourbridge became a major global centre with Stuart Crystal.

In the decades following World War Two, the fortunes of the glass industry slowly declined due to a failure to modernise, foreign competition and changing tastes. Evidence of past glass making have been found at Bishops Wood (Eccleshall) and Bagot’s Park (Abbots Bromley), and ‘Quickfix & Quartz’ had factory in Stone, on the Morrison’s site in the 1950s.

Hixon History Society meet again at 8-00pm in Hixon Memorial Hall on Tuesday 4th November. The meeting will feature a talk by Steve Booth on Cannock Chase and its hidden history.

The fee is £2-00 per person. All welcome. 

John Egginton