19th Century Mini Glassmakers in Bristol

During the 19th century a number of small scale glassmakers existed in Bristol.  This development may have something to do with technology, e.g. the availabliity of gas as a fuel rather than coal.  Most of the information below comes from the trade directories, however the listings do not mean that they were making glass for all the time they were listed in the directories.

Francis Calder

James Davis

There is an advertising broadsheet displayed in Bristol museum, which may refer to James Davis, the text of which is as follows:

"Mr Davis and Mr Johnson - Glass Blowers.  Mr Johnson, a native of Sweden, and just returned from South America, has the honour of exhibiting before the King of France and Suite, while at Brighton, and patronised by numerous distinguished noblemen and gentry; respectfully announces his arrival in the city and purposes during the fair; to exhibit their curious, pleasing and interesting of glass blowing in miniature; at No 4, St James's Churchyard.  Mr Davis assures the public that they are the only ship builders travelling the kingdom, and they will blow any article wanted, while the company are present - glass blowing, spinning, linking and modelling.  Mr Davis makes a variety of ornaments for sale, such as feathers, pens, plain and ornamented necklaces, ships, anchors, crosses, baskets, flowers, pipes, tobacco stoppers, cigar tubes, microscopes, spirit levels, trees, birds and birds' nests, seals, smelling bottles, rings, decanters, glasses, quadrupeds, instruments for philosophical experiments, with a variety of other articles too numerous to insert.  They will exhibit a fleet of ships from one inch in length to 40, and will teach the art of ship building while the company are present, without the use of fire.  Mr D is enabled to spin one thousand yards of common window glass in the space of one minute, so fine that ten grains in weight will extend eighteen hundred yards in length.  Mr Johnson makes a variety of men of war, from 20 guineas to 100; tea caddies from £5 to £20; bird cages from £1 to £5; work boxes from £2 to £10; glass templars from £5 to £50; baskets from £1 to £5.  All articles in the exhibition are made in Bristol.  Mr Davis continues to work from 10 in the morning till 9 at night.  Admittance - ladies and gentlemen 1s - tradesmen 6d - children half-price."

The broadsheet is displayed next to "Nailsea" glass and the museum suggests that Davis may have made some of this.  However, the directory entries make it clear that he was not making decorative coloured glass.

Davis & Co

The museum also has a miniature glass tea set, under a glass dome, which bears the inscription "Davis & Co. glass shade merchants of 33 Union Street".  The museum suggests that Davis & Co may have made the tea set, this seems highly unlikely, and the inscription simply refers to the retailer.  Davis & Co were at 17 Union Street for 1868-1881, 33 Union Street for 1882-1897 (renumbered from 17 in 1881), and 4 Castle Street for 1898-1916.  They were described as glass shade merchants.  There was a similar business, J Smith and Sons, at 17 Union Street for 1853-1867.

William Fisher

Alice Howard

Joseph Whitehouse

J Whitehouse paid rates on three houses in Pipe Lane for 1859-1862, on a glasshouse in Pipe Lane for 1863-1866, in 1867 the glasshouse was void (unoccupied).

John Yandell and Mrs Yandell

Randall (presumably a mistake for Yandell) paid rates on a warehouse in Church Street (Great Gardens) for 1860.  John Randell paid rates on a glasshouse in Church Street for 1861-1878.  After that it would appear that glassmaking ceased.

Thomas Smart