The extraordinary global impact of Chance Glassworks, a Black Country glassmaker whose innovations illuminated coastlines worldwide and featured in iconic structures from the Crystal Palace to the White House, is being brought to light through a new theatrical production and other heritage projects. Based in Smethwick, the company not only provided glass for some of the planet's most renowned buildings but also pioneered lighthouse lenses that revolutionised maritime safety, significantly enhancing global trade and navigation.
A comprehensive mapping initiative has documented the extensive reach of Chance Glassworks, identifying approximately 580 locations equipped with their advanced lenses. This research underpins 'Cape Custard - A Lighthouse Adventure', a new family play currently touring the West Midlands. The production aims to re-centre attention on the region's rich history of industrial innovation and technological advancement, particularly focusing on the human stories behind these achievements.
One such story is that of Orlando Stokes, born in Smethwick in 1864, who dedicated his life to the factory, following in his father William's footsteps. Stokes held a highly specialised scientific role, travelling extensively by ship to install the company's intricate glass components, often involving the use of liquid mercury. His great-great-grandson, Scott Jones, describes Stokes as a daring character, akin to a steeplejack, who risked his life regularly climbing lighthouses in an era devoid of modern health and safety regulations, often returning home months later with exotic gifts.
Chance Glassworks, at its peak, employed 3,500 individuals, establishing itself as the world's largest glassmaker. The company's influence stretched far beyond its products; it was known for its philanthropic approach, investing in its workforce by building houses, providing pensions, and even establishing a school for employees' children. This commitment to its community and pioneering spirit cemented its dominance in British glassmaking for over a century, producing everything from the first cathode ray tubes to laboratory glass and even novelty items.
The company, originally founded by Robert 'Lucas' Chance in 1824 at the Spon Lane works, later became Chance Brothers and Company. Its notable contributions include supplying 300,000 panes of glass for the Crystal Palace in 1850 and exhibiting its first lighthouse optics at the Great Exhibition the following year. Other significant projects included glazing the Houses of Parliament and providing the white glass for the four faces of the Westminster Clock Tower. While the company's flat glass production at Smethwick ceased in the latter half of the 20th century following Pilkington Brothers' acquisition of a controlling stake by 1952, its legacy of innovation and global impact endures.