Collector seeks help in glass research

A COLLECTOR of pressed glass is seeking the help of Warrington people in researching the history of the Orford Lane Glass Works which is believed to have closed some time between 1895 and 1900.
Thomas Joyce, aged 50, from Dublin has set up his own website on pressed glass and has gathered a great deal of information about the Orford Lane works, which became the Alliance Box Company works in 1900.
But he has run into a brick wall over the exact date of the glass works closing.
Orford Lane Glass Works was founded by Thomas Glazebrook (1780-1829) who was an influential figure in the Lancashire Association of Flint Glass Manufacturers.
The works changed ownership several times over the years, first by Glazebrook going into partnership with Thomas Robinson for the period 1829-1832.
Robinson continued on his own until 1855, although for a time he was in partnership with William Warburton.
In 1855, he went into partnership with Edward Bolton.
It was Robinson who introduced the pressed glass process – invented in the United States in 1825 – at Orford Lane and the company has great success with a pattern called the Empress Dish.
Edward Bolton became sole owner of the glassworks in 1869.
But for two years from 1875 Bolton, his son George and George Wood ran the company as a partnership. Then until 1885, Edward Bolton appears again to have been sole owner.
An engraving of the works in 1855 is said to have shown at least four furnaces working, which is an indication that it was a works of reasonable size.
From 1885 to 1892 the company was known as Edward Bolton and Sons.
There was a family connection in Australia and for a time glass made in Warrington was sold and exhibited “Down Under.”
The history of the Orford Lane work becomes hazy after 1892. Edward Bolton died in 1899.
Mr Joyce started collecting pressed glass in 1999 but has only one example of a piece made at the Orford Lane works.
English pressed glass has become collectable since the last works in the country – Pyrex at Sunderland – closed in 2007.
Anyone who can help Mr Joyce can contact him at [email protected]
Pictured: Mr Joyce’s sole piece of Warrington pressed glass.