Northern Perspectives’ view of the National Glass Centre, Sunderland

The National Glass Centre, Sunderland, by Northern Perspectives

Glass was introduced to this country in 674AD when Benedict Biscop, a Northumbrian abbot, returned from a pilgrimage to Rome and began building St Peter’s Monastery at Monkwearmouth, using stonemasons and glaziers from Gaul and Rome. This was the first time glass had been seen in Britain, and the foreigners passed on the tricks of the trade to the locals.

As an industry, glassmaking really took off in the 18th Century. Sunderland had access to cheap coal, from the North East coalfield, and sand aplenty from the beaches – Seaham sand, with a high silica content, was found to be especially good. However, as Durham coal was sold further afield, the colliers, rather than return empty, came back with foreign sand for ballast, with high quality Baltic sand being popular among the glassmakers.

The National Glass Centre, Sunderland, when it opened in 1998, by Ian Weir

The National Glass Centre, built on the site of one of Sunderland’s last shipyards as that industry died, was officially opened in 1998 by Prince Charles. It was intended to celebrate this history and to keep the artistic skills alive – the 158-piece Londonderry Glass Table Service of engraved and cut glass, made in 1823-24 by the Wear Flint Glass Works for the marquess in Seaham Hall, is regarded as one of the finest ever made.

HRH The Prince Of Wales tries his hands at glass blowing at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland today (Friday) under the supervision of Barry Clark, Studio Manager. Photo by Owen Humphreys/EDI WPA POOL/PA

However, yesterday all that came to an end as the university controversially shut the glass centre, citing huge maintenance bills, with the intention of demolishing it.

As the last glassmaking factory in Sunderland closed in 2007, when the parent company of Pyrex withdrew to the continent, it does represent the end of the line.

Northern Perspectives

So Northern Perspectives has recorded it. He is a Durham-based photographer who uses the latest drone-based technology to cast new light on our beautiful and historic landscapes. To see more of his prolific output, including his aerial videos, search “Northern Perspectives” on Facebook.

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