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Red House Glass Cone, Wordsley
During the early 19th century a remarkable structure was developed in Britain - the Red House Glass Cone. The conical building was designed to channel air into the furnace to make the fire burn hotter than normal. It also provided a large work space for the glassmakers. Throughout Dudley and Stourbridge areas there were many cones, but the densest concentration was in Amblecote and Wordsley. Even after technology advanced and the cones were no longer needed to act as chimneys the buildings were still used for glassmaking until many eventually fell into disrepair, were demolished or simply collapsed.
Today there are only four cones left standing in Britain and the Red House Glass Cone is the most complete example in Europe - the other three are located in Scotland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield.
The Red House Glass Cone is 100 feet high and was built around 1790. It was most recently home to Stuart Crystal who produced glass in the cone until 1936. Production at their factory on the cone site stopped in 2001.
The cone has remained virtually unaltered in its 200 year old history and is now operating as a visitor attraction providing a fascinating insight into the history and tradition of glassmaking. The self-guided tour around the Cone, visitor centre and canal give visitors a taste of what the site was like at its peak. Standing inside the cone and looking up through the hole in the top shows its scale and gives people an impression of what it would have been like to work inside this impressive structure. With contemporary glassblowing and cutting on site as well as Studio tenants in all the cone's outbuildings, the cone continues to be a site of artistic design, innovation and history.
The people who worked at the cone worked in appalling conditions. Adults and children worked together usually doing a 12 hour shift in the burning heat of the cone. It is said that the spirits of these workers now haunt the workshops where footsteps have been heard, people having conversations when there is nobody around and loud noises have happened with no explanation.
Always be aware that when you are walking around the tour of the Red House Glass Cone that there are workers talking and working away unknown to ourselves................
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