HISTORY King George V Visits Rylands
trouble in 1893 and attempted suicide when he was declared bankrupt. In a touching gesture, his employees raised £300 so that his family could keep their possessions. Sadly, his troubles persisted and he took his life in 1910 after the company was bought out by Woods in 1905.
glassware, changing direction from their earlier production of table glassware and lampshades.
Redfearn Glass Works
Redfearn Glass Works is one of the few companies mentioned here that still runs today. However, its historical significance starts way back in 1862 when it was first opened by the Redfearn family.
Fifty years later, in 1910, the company was incorporated as the Redfearn Brothers. Over the next few decades, the company continued to grow, leading to a move to a bigger factory at Monk Bretton in 1947.
The business changed its name to Redfearn National Glass when it merged with the National Glass Works in 1967. At that time, they had over 1,800 workers, making them one of the largest employers in Barnsley, second only to the National Coal Board.
Today, the company is owned by global packaging firm, Ardagh Group.
Hope Glass Works
In 1867, Hope Glass Works was founded by Ben Rylands. Ten years on saw the beginning of a partnership between Rylands and Hiram Codd, the man responsible for the invention of the Codd Bottle.
This bottle had a huge impact on the packaging of fizzy drinks as it used the pressure of the carbon dioxide to push a marble against the neck of the bottle, creating a perfect seal. This partnership remained until Rylands’ death in 1881.
Dan Rylands, Ben’s son, took over the partnership with Codd in 1882. However, after only two short years, Codd allowed Rylands to buy him out of the business.
Rylands ran into money
One of the most momentous occasions in this company’s history was the visit of King George V in 1912. To celebrate the royal visit, all workers were given commemorative glassware. Men were given beer bottles; women, marmalade jars. Soda syphons were handed out to local pubs and even children received Codd bottles to mark the occasion. This glassware is very famous and highly valued by collectors due to its rarity.
Commemorative Glassware for royal visit to Rylands
These companies are but a few of those that flourished during our industrial peak. For a long time, it was businesses like these that defined Rotherham and Barnsley, putting us on the map for the first time. And although most of them are gone, they are certainly not forgotten.
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