The National Glass Centre is located in Sunderland, on the north banks of the River Wear. The Glass Centre was built on the site of J.L Thompson and Sons shipyard. The centre was built close to St.Peter’s Church which was part of the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory built in 674, as it was here that Benedict Biscop introduced glass making into Britain when he hired French glass makers to make the windows for the priory. This is a key reason as to why the Centre was chose to be built here.
The glass-making industry grew in the eighteenth century because of the fact that cheap coal and high quality sand were easy to import on bulk. This mass production meant that Sunderland glass became known throughout the country.
From the 1920’s up until 2007 Sunderland was acknowledged for producing the well know Pyrex brand of glassware. The company Jobling Purser under license in Britain produced the well known brand that most people associate with kitchenware – as it was virtually unbreakable and easy to clean. The brand was seen as a “must have” for “good-looking cooking” in households throughout Britain after the Second World War.
As the demand for glassware products became fell cheaper alternative ways of making glass came about; it was inevitable that production in Sunderland would soon come to a halt. On 28 th September 2007 Pyrex glass production finally ceased on Wearside when the Sunderland Wear Glass Works in Millfield, once under the ownership of Joblings, closed down. Glass had been manufactured in Sunderland for hundreds of years and and in its hay day the industry employed the largest workforce in the Tyne and Wear area after the shipyards.
Despite a decline towards the end of the 19th Century for the glass industry in 1998 the Glass Centre was opened costing around £17 million. It was funded by The Arts Council in conjunction with the University of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation, European Regional Development Fund and Sunderland City Council. The centre, located alongside the university’s St. Peter’s campus, was part of the regeneration of the banks of the Wear.
The University, who partly funded the building of the centre, run a Glass and Ceramics Degree on its site. Here you can also find a range of exhibitions showing the history of glass making as well as displays of modern works. You could also take the time to visit the onsite cafe or watch live demonstrations of glassware being made; or if you feel adventurous have a go yourself!
Here is a link to the Degree guide – http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/ug/subjectareas/glassandceramics/ht
To find out more or to see what events are on follow the link below to The National Glass Centre site –http://www.nationalglasscentre.com/
On My Door Step 