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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.
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Francis Calder |
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1849 |
1869 |
Baker, 9 Lewins Mead. |
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1870 |
1875 |
Baker and glass blower, 9 Lewins Mead. |
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1871 |
1877 |
Glass blower, 9 Lewins Mead. |
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James Davis |
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1825 |
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Miniature glass blower in all its branches and tubes
for philosophical experiments, 8 Lewins Mead.. |
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1826 |
1830 |
Miniature glass blower, 8 Lewins Mead. |
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1831 |
1842 |
Miniature glass blower and maker of all kinds of tubes
for chemical experiments, thermometers, barometers, &c; 8 Lewins Mead. |
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1843 |
1852 |
Maker of all kinds of tubes for chemical experiments
&c, 8 Lewins Mead (directory for 1853 missing). |
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1854 |
1858 |
Thermometer and barometer makers - all kinds of tubes
for chemical experiments &c, 8 Lewins Mead. |
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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. |
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Davis & Co |
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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. |
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William Fisher |
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1871 |
1874 |
Glass blowers, Paul Street, Bedminster. |
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Alice Howard |
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1870 |
1874 |
Glass lamp maker, St Philip's Marsh (this may not be
actual glassmaking). |
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Joseph Whitehouse |
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1851 |
1865 |
Birmingham flint glass manufacturers and dealers in
fancy dress, Pipe Lane and Temple Gate. |
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1866 |
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Birmingham flint glass manufacturers and dealers in
fancy dress, Temple Gate. |
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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). |
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John Yandell |
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1870 |
1877 |
Glass blower, Church Street, Great Gardens. |
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1878 |
1883 |
Avon Street, Great Gardens. |
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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. |
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