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LONDON GLASS CUTTERS & ENGRAVERS c.1793

by Peter Lole (Article from Glass Circle News no. 78. 1999, p. 6)

Wheel engraving in 1680Wheel engraving in 1680

This essay deals with the earliest of this group of Directories: THE UNIVERSAL BRITISH DIRECTORY of Trade, Commerce and Manufacture 1793-1798 (London, at the British Directory Office, Ave Maria-lane, and sold by Chamnate and Whitrus, Jewry-street, Aldgate). The position in LONDON is covered by Volumes I & II of the set, the first volumes to be issued. The introduction is signed in 1793, by Peter Barfoot and John Wilkes. Despite calling itself ‘British’, the directory covers only England and Wales. [The 1993 facsimile re-print is by The Book Factory, London N7 7AH, in ten volumes; ISBN 1 898593 00 01 When using these directories one has to enter a series of oft’ rehearsed caveats. The dates sometimes span a period, and in a national survey some entries will inevitably predate others. In some instances, as indeed with some modem Directories, fees were solicited for inclusion. Thus, no fee, no entry; but if pushed too far, no Directory, either! But the major problem is what precisely is the meaning of a description? Does an entry represent a one man band or a large workshop? What does a particular descriptive term mean, and is this term used consistently? Precise consistency seems unlikely, for the format varies somewhat geographically, suggesting that even in this respect different contributors were not consistently edited. In the context of the Directory under review, should we infer some difference is intended between the following terms used for the selling side of the Glass Trade:

  • Glass shop
  • Glass warehouse
  • Glass dealer
  • Glass merchant
  • Glass seller
  • Glassman
This last term, ‘Glassman’, is particularly uncertain. However, in the 1794 list given below 'Glassman' most frequently refers to a merchant whos prime occupation is selling glass tableware, particularly when associated with 'China-man'.

The most suprising feature was that clearly London in the early 1790s was still by far the most important domestic Glass centre in the country. It had more than twice as many cutters as the rest of England put together, and half the Glass Engravers listed in the whole of England. It had almost a third (19 out of a total of 66) of the Glasshouses and Glass Manufacturers listed, but forty years later the proportion of Excise Duty paid in London had dropped to only 2% of the total English sum of £680,000. (See: C.R.Hajdamach: British Glass 1800-1914 Pp 413-41) But this note is really directed only to Cutting and Engraving.

The correct treatment of those listed as GLASSMAN, often in association with pottery, is something of a puzzle. There are twelve of them in London, of whom at least four are well known names who probably decorated Glass on their own premises:-
William Bacchus George Yard, Upper Thames St. (Glass & China-man) Jonathon Collett 10, Cockspur-street, (Glass-man) Thomas Johnson 195, Holborn, (Potter and glassman) William Kendal l15, St. James’s street (Glass-man)

In the following list any already recorded by Robert Charleston as Engravers are marked * The designation in the Directory is given as the heading below.



GLASS ENGRAVERS, c.1793:

Name Address Description
1 *George Armistead New Street Sq. Glass engraver and cutter
2 *James Byrne c. 79 Little Britain Glass engraver
3 *Thomas Frankland 59 Redcross St., Cripping. (Criplegate Ward) Glass cutter and engraver

GLASS CUTTERS, c.1793:

Name Address Description
1 Joseph Aldwinkle 72, Mark-lane
2 Charles Allison Garlick-hill
3 Hector Barnes 30, Pudding-lane
4 Thomas Bennett 48, Galter Lane
5 Christopher Bird 47, Markwell St, Wood St.
6 John Birkley 17, Ratcliffe Highway
7 Samuel Brooks 110, Strand
8 Edward Brown 12, Billiter Sq.
9 William Burgess 4, Little Friday St.
10 Andrew Cobb 26, Goswell St.
11 Peter Cobb Angel St., Martins le Grand
12 *Samuel Collings Earl St., Seven Dials Lapidiary and Gl. Cutr.
13 Jaco Cope 111, Upper Thames St.
14 Croucher and Martin 23, Queen St. Cheapside
15 John Davis Hart St. Cruched Friars
16 Adam Denis Clements Lane, Lombard St.
17 William Dutton Drapers co. Princes St.
18 Thomas Fenton 13, Birchin Lane
19 Anthoy Genever 340, Oxford St. Cut glass Manufactory
20 Henry Goddin 9, Sherborne Lane
21 Thomas Goodchild 252, Tooley St.
22 Joseph Goodchild 2, Tooley St.
23 William Gould 78, Gracechurch St. Glass Cutter and Grinder
24 John Henry Grossman Well St. Rosemary Lane.
25 Haedy & Son 287, Strand. Cut-glass manufactory
26 Hancock & Shepherd Cockspur St. Cut-glass warehouse
27 Christopher Hannell 85, Dorset St, Salisbury Sq.
28 John Harris Chamber St, Goodman St.
29 Harrison and Beardmore 125, Hounsditch.
30 *Hodson and Blakeway 71, Strand. Cut-glass manufactory
31 Joseph Hunt 34 Noble St.
32 Peter Kolp Yeates-co Butcher Row.
33 Charles Leader 17, Lothbury.
34 George Lee 48, St-Martins-le-grand.
35 Goerge Lovell 53 Red Lime St. Bloomsbury.
36 Edward Lowe 53, Crooked Lane.
37 John Mark Finch Lane, Cornhill.
38 Neale & Bailey 8, St. Paul's Churchyard. Staffordshire warehouseman & Cut-glass manufacturers
39 Henry Rider 231 High Holborn. Cut-glass manufacturer
40 Henry Rider 23 Holborn. Cut-glass manufacturer
41 James Simpson 20 Portman St.
42 John West 40, Old Bond Street.
43 Wilkinson 16 Goldsmiths' Row, Shoe Lane.
44 Young Lake & Son 54 Watling St.
45 George Young St. Catherines.


Finally we come to the GLASS GRINDERS:-

This trade, which was strongly represented in London, was most unusual in the Provinces. There is only one provincial Glass Grinder recorded:
James Turner, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Glass-grinder and spectacle-maker)
but there are two other craftsmen whose trade seems to be related: John Kendred, Darlington, (Inventor of a machine for grinding optic-lenses which works by water).
Joseph Pearson, Birmingham, (Spectade-maker, glass-stainer, quicker, gilder and lapidary).

Whilst one's initial impression is that a Glass Grinder is involved in bevelling glass, such as mirror plates, it is clear from the above listings that it is more probably a lens making activity. There are many great Looking Glass Makers in the Directories, but one takes these to be essentially a branch of Cabinet Making. In my list London boasts of no less than seven Glass Grinders, plus William Gould listed above as a cutter.

W.G. Cave, Glass Cutters.W.G. Cave, Glass Cutters.

GLASS GRINDERS, c.1793:

Name Address Description
1 Christopher Child Playhouse Yd. Water Lane
2 Thomas English Great Earl St, Seven Dials.
3 John Gray 29 Steward St. Spitalfields.
4 Nicholas Hancox Castle St. Long Acre.
5 John Harden Silver St. Clerkenwell.
6 Thomas Knight Old Compton St. Soho
7 William Schofield White Lion, Seven Dials. Glass Grinder &.

Plus another specialist not found in the Provinces is:
Thomas Peacock 2, Chatham-pI. Blackfr. (Ground-glass manufactory).


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Another more general list of people involved in the glass industry was published the following year.

This list is given in alphabetical order of name rather than classified into subjects.

Only eleven of the above listed glass cutters appear in the list below (marked *)with another two with the same names but with a different address(in itallics).

There are 19 glass cutters in total in the list but some of these are clearly glaziers. It may be that, as suggested by Peter Lole, both publishing companies charged for their entries and many of those who had contributed to the earlier publication decided not to bother with Kelly.

The reference to a Staffordshire Warehouse probably meant that it stocked glass from the Dudley/Stourbridge area. This could indicate that a cheaper range of glass was on offer compared with the more fancy and expensive London-made glass.

SOURCE: Kent's Directory for the Year 1794. Cities of London and Westminster, & Borough of Southwark (115 entries)


Glass cutter>
Name Address Description
1 Abbott James, Bridge street, Westminster. Glass & Chinaman,
2 Allen John Staffordshire Warehouse, 8, Rotherhith. Cut Glass
3 Angus Jos. 58, Aldermanbury. Coach & Looking Glass Grinder,
4 Argand & Elgar, Bruton St. Berkley Sq. Patent Lamp Manufacturers
5 Bacon Jos. 25, Borough. Staffordshire & Glass Warehouse
6 Banner John 2, Cripplegate buildings. Plumber & Glass cutter
7 Barlow John 183, Bishopsgate without. Glass Manufactory
8 *Barnes Hector 30, Pudding lane, Eastcheap. Glass cutter
9 Beach Wm. 3, Huggin la. Wood str. Callendrer & Glazer
10 Bellendine Wm. 14, Glass-house str. Carnaby market Wine & Brandy Mercht.
11 Black A. Albion pl. Blackfriars road Cast Plate Glass Manufactory
12 Blades John 5, Ludgate Hill Glass Manufactory
13 Blakeway & Hodsdon 71, Strand Glass Warehouse
14 Bowles Geo. & Charles, Cock hill, Ratcliff Glass Manufactory
15 Brandy Geo. 264, Wapping Glass & Staffordshire Warehouse
16 Brewer J. 126, Newgate str Carver & Looking glass Manufacturer
17 Briscoe John 20, Swan street, Minories
18 *Brooks Sam. 110, Strand Glass cutter & Diamond setter
19 Brown J. 6, Great Queen str. Lincoln's inn fi. Glass grinder
20 Brydon John 7, Charing cross Glass, & Print Warehouse
21 Bushin S. 19, Wellclose square Looking glass Manufactory
22 Calvert Anthony 21, New street, Covent Garden China, Glass and Staffordshire Warehouse
23 Clarke Samuel 285, Wapping Plumber & Glass cutter
24 Clarkson M. 127, St. John's st. Smithfield China & Glass seller
25 Clement Mary 24, Lothbury China & Glass seller
26 Collett Jona 10, Cockspur street, Charing cross Glassman
27 Connell Cornelius Cockspur st. Charing Cross. Glass & Chinaman
28 Cooper J 20, Noble St. Foster Lane Looking glass Manufactory
29 Cooper Joseph 37, Bishopsgate within Cabinet & Looking glass Manufacturer
30 Cove Augustus 62, Gracechurch street China & Glass seller
31 Cox Alex. Tho. Co. Falcon stairs, Southwark Glass Manufactory
32 *Croucher Martin 23, Queen str. Cheapside Glass cutters
33 Dawson Rob. 31, St. Paul's Church yard Potter & Glassman
34 *Dennis Adam 13, Clement's la. Lombard str. Glass cutter
35 Dixon James Glass Warehouse 156, Fleet street
36 Everidge John Gravel lane, Southwark Looking & Coach Glass Manufactory
37 Fentham Thomas 52, Strand Glass grinder
38 *Gerner A. 340, Oxford street Glass cutter Engraver
39 Gill T. 14, Lower Brooke St. Grosvenor Sq. Glass Chinaman
40 *Goodchild Thomas 252, Tooley street Window Glass cutter
41 *Goodchild Joseph 2, Tooley St. Window Glass cutter
42 Green & Limpus 62, Up. Thames str Wholesale Potters Glassmen
43 Guest J. 164, St. John's str. Clerkenwell Potter & Glass seller
44 *Haedy Joseph 287, Strand Glass Manufactory
45 Hall Wm. Staffordshire Warehouse, Newington causeway, Surry Glass
46 *Hancock & Shepherd Cockspur street Glassmen
47 Hargrave Freeborough 71, St. Martin's lane, Charing cross Glass & Staffordshire Warehouse
48 *Harris John Chamber street, Goodman's fields Glass cutter
49 Harrison & Burn 22, Barbican Glass Staffordshire Warehouse
50 Hartley & Son 108, Newgate Str. Looking glass Frame makers
51 Hawkins Rich. 41, Snow-h. Turner & Looking glass Manufacturer
52 Hayward C. 115, St. Martin's la. China, Glass & Carpet Warehouse
53 Hayward Samuel 20, Bread street
54 Heatley B. Mercht. 2 Bell co. Mincing Lane Glass Warehouse
55 Hillcock Robert 57,Mincing Lane China & Glassman
56 Holland & Tunstall 2, High st. St. Giles's Lapidaries & Glass cutters
57 Holmes John Temple street, Fleet street Glass house
58 Hooper William 249, High Holborn Glass Warehouse
59 Horne Crighton Portland str. Ratcliff highway Glass maker
60 Hunt Joseph 35, Smithfield Glass cutter
61 Jackson John Mutton la. Clerkenwell Turner Glass cutter
62 Jenks Robert New Surry street, Blackfriars road Looking glass Manufactory
63 Kemp & Son 64, Cornhill Cabinet-makers & Glass-grinders
64 Kendall R. C. 44, Ludgate-hill China & Glassman
65 Kendall Wm. 15, St. James's-Str. Glass Manufactory
66 Leader Charles 15, Coleman-Str. Glass-cutter
67 Leathley John 4, St.Dunstan's-alley, Thames-str. Crown Glass Warehouse
68 Livie John Hermitage-yard, Wapping Potter & Glass-seller
69 Lovell Tho. 32, Bread-Str. Glass & Staffordshire Warehouse
70 Macdougal Alex. 37, Long-acre Glass-grinder
71 Marsh J. & Co. 79, Bishopsgate within Potters & Glassmen
72 Mayhew & Ince, Cabinet-makers, Upholsterers, & Dealers in Plate Glass
73 Milbourne James 347, Strand Gilder Glass-grinder
74 *Neale & Bailey 8, St. Paul's Church-yard Glass-manufacturers & Potters
75 Neunburg & Nash Glass-Sellers, 75, Cornhill Chinamen, Potters
76 North & Son 104, Norton-Falgate Potters & Glass-Sellers
77 Ogdin John 36, Upper Thames-Str. Potter & Glass-seller
78 Oram Ann 212, Wapping Plumber & Glass-cutter
79 Palmer & Son 118, St. Martin's-lane Crown Glass Warehouse
80 Parker & Son Wm 69, Fleet-Str. Glass Manufacturers
81 Payne E. 18, Bishopsgate within Glass & Staffordshire Warehouse
82 Peacock W. 2, Chatham-place, Blackfriars-Bridge Glass Warehouse
83 Peacock & Co. 46, Fleet-market Glass Warehouse
84 Pearman George 87, Gracechurch-Str. Glass-seller
85 Peckham, Wm. 6, Gray's-inn-passage, Holborn Glass Warehouse
86 Pellatt Apsley 115, Newgate-str Glass Warehouse
87 Petipher R. 300, Bell-dock, Wapping Plumber & Glass-cutter
88 Phillips Geo. 135, Oxford-Str. China & Glassman
89 Pool Charles 24, Whitechapel China, Pot & Glass-seller
90 Price Thomas 109, Strand Cut-glass Manufactory
91 Purcell James> 9, Great New-str., Shoe-lane Glassman
92 Rawlinson Wm. Staffordshire Warehouse, 140, St. John's-St. Glass
93 Richards Hugh 279, Ditto Carver & Glass-grinder
94 Russell, Slater & M. Horne Well-str., Wellclose-square Flint-glass Manufacturers
95 Sharp, Joseph 52, Fenchurch-street Glass-seller Chinaman
96 Slyth & Fisher 40, Lower Brook-st., Grosvenor-Sq. China Glassmen
97 Smith James & John. Brook's-wharf, Upper Thames-Str. Wholesale Potters Glassmen
98 Smith Tho. 22, Strand China & Glass Warehouse
99 Standfield William 481, Strand Glass & Chinaman
100 Stanton Wilcoxon 58, Lombard-Street Looking-glass Manufacturers
101 Strange & Westell 33, Aldgate High-street Crown Glass Warehouse
102 Swan J. 14, Parliament-str., Westminster China & Glassman
103 Thatcher Geo. 183, Fleet-street Glass & Lamp Warehouse
104 Thomas Wm. 4, Glass-house-Street, Swallow-street Oilman
105 Tidmarsh F. Staffordshire Warehouse, Great Surry-Street.Blackfriars-Road Glass
106 Tidswell Tho. Glass Warehouse, 121, Shoreditch China
107 Walker Wm. 112, Minories China, Glass & Teaman
108 98, Hermitage-bridge Potter & Glassman
109 Woodman J. Glass-house-yd, Aldersgate-st. Wholesale Jeweller
110 Wright T. Redlion-market, Whitecross-str. Watch-glass-maker
111 *Young Lake & Son, 54, Watling-street Glass-cutters