The Black Country glass pioneers who helped illuminate the globe

In 1946 the company opened a plant in Malvern, Worcestershire, producing the world’s first interchangeable syringe.

But during the company’s success, competitor Pilkington Brothers had acquired a 50% shareholding and by 1952 it had taken control of the company.

The production of flat glass ceased at Smethwick in 1976, with the remainder of the works closing in1981 and so ending more than 150 years of glass production.

The factory was closed for the last time by ex-chief engineer Ray Drury, who said: “I drove my car out, I shut the gate behind me and [threw] the key in the canal.”

The factory, comprising of nine Grade II listed structures, has been included on the Victorian Society’s list of most endangered buildings, after being left derelict.

However, funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England is helping it move forwards with a regeneration project.

The Chance Heritage Trust said it was working to restore and protect the buildings, developing the site into a mixed-use urban village including residential and educational spaces.

The project is currently seeking the funding to “get spades in the ground”, the trust said.