British Plate Glass Co
of Ravenhead, St. Helens, Lancashire
Warehouse at Albion Place, Blackfriars Bridge, London (1801)[1]
Established 1773 at St Helens, as the British (Cast) Plate Glass Manufacturers[2]
Local coal was used to fire the furnaces. The molten glass produced was poured onto rectangular casting tables. After it had cooled, been ground and polished, the glass was used to glaze the houses and stage coach windows of the wealthy. Silvered, the glass hung on the walls of the wealthy as mirrors. The huge casting hall at Ravenhead was Britain’s largest industrial building; coupled with the internal arches which gave the impression of nave and aisle, it became known to many as the "cathedral".
c.1786 A rotative engine was ordered by the "Plate Glass Company" from Boulton and Watt to grind glass.
1794 The whole property of the Governors and Company of the British Plate Glass Manufacturers was advertised for sale by auction[3]
1801 Advertised sales outlets for plate glass in London and Ravenhead[4]
1819 The Governors and Company of the British Plate Glass Manufacture were incorporated by Act of Parliament for a further term[5]
1854 The Ravenhead Works were visited by a party from the British Association meeting[6]
1875 William John Blake left his shares in the company to his brother Henry Wollaston Blake[7].
1894 Shares traded[8].
1895 Took over the Ravenhead site of London and Manchester Plate Glass Co and restarted the works[9]
1901 Ravenhead site taken over by Pilkington
1904 The company was in liquidation[10]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] World of Glass