Red House Cone
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Red House Cone is located in Wordsley adjacent to the canal bridge on the A491 High Street. It is a 90-foot (27 m) high conical brick structure with a diameter of 60 feet (18 m), used for the production of glass.[1] It was used by the Stuart Crystal firm till 1936[2], when the company moved to a new facility at Vine Street.[3] It is one of only four cones remaining in the United Kingdom.[4]
It is the best preserved of only four such structures in the UK and is currently used as a museum by Dudley Council. At the site are craft shops, demonstrations of glass blowing, a cafe, shop, and provision for temporary exhibits. Visitors are able to climb a platform to view more closely the interior of the cone.
A one acre site, on which the cone stands, was sold by John and Ann Southwell and Rebecca Stokes was sold to Richard Bradley, a wealthy glass-manufacturer, on June 21, 1788. It is believed that Bradley began construction on the site soon after purchase, meaning that the cone would date to around 1790. The cone was built by Bradley in partnership with his brother-in-law, George Ensell, for the manufacture of window glass. Ensell installed a moving lehr in the cone, which remains today and is the only surviving one in the world.[1]
The cone received Grade II* listed building status on September 23, 1966.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Jason Ellis (2003). Glassmakers of Stourbridge and Dudley 1612-2002: A Biographical History of a Once Great Industry. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 1401067980.
- ^ John Butt; Ian L. Donnachie (1979). Industrial Archaeology in the British Isles. Paul Elek Incorporated. ISBN 0236401572.
- ^ BBC Legacies: Red House Cone, Chris Upton (page 4)
- ^ Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council: Red House Glass Cone
- ^ Images of England — details from listed building database (217964)
[edit] External links
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