A member of the Royal Family was the guest of honour at the official opening of a new state of the art glass museum following a major 12-year regeneration project spearheaded by a Coventry-based developer.
Stourbridge Glass Museum was officially opened by HRH Duke of Gloucester as the culmination of a 12-year development project by Complex Development Projects (CDP) and British Glass Foundation.
The museum is part of a £7m mixed use project to restore the Grade 2 Listed former Stuart Crystal glassworks on Wordsley’s High Street, with CDP transforming the previously derelict buildings into apartments, offices and the new glass museum.
The Museum was fitted out by local charity The British Glass Foundation who will continue to operate the visitor attraction. Funding of £1,056,900 was provided by National Lottery Heritage Fund for the museum fit out.
The museum serves as the new home of the world-renowned Stourbridge Glass collection, which is made up of more than 10,000 glass items from over 200 years, including different glassmaking machinery, equipment and varied examples of 17th, 18th, 19th and contemporary 20th century glass pieces.
The museum’s range of exhibitions explore Stourbridge’s and the UK’s rich and vibrant history of glassmaking over 400 years including digital audio-visual displays, an activity room for children and live glassblowing demonstrations by resident glass artist Allister Malcolm and his team in the museum’s hot glass studio.
The Duke was joined at the launch event by Ian Harrabin MBE, owner of Complex Development Projects, as well as 150 local people and school children, and unveiled a glass plaque commemorating the launch.
During his visit, the Duke met with museum curators, volunteers, resident artists and glassmakers whilst visiting the museum’s exhibitions on a celebration of carnival glass, the story of the famous Roman Portland Vase, and glasswork by University of Wolverhampton alumni featured in the BBC One show Make It At Market.
Ian Harrabin said “We completed the restoration of the buildings some years ago and since then the British Glass Foundation has worked tirelessly to deliver an exceptional visitor attraction centred on their marvellous glass collection.
“Although it has been a very long process of regeneration since our acquisition of the derelict site in 2004, it is great to celebrate the completion of the museum.
“Working in true partnership, we have turned a derelict site into a world-class museum and I couldn’t be prouder of the end result creating an enriching and educating attraction for the visitors to enjoy for decades to come.”
Photo caption: HRH Duke of Gloucester with Ian Drury and Terri Colledge, makers of the 21st century replica of the famous Portland Vase