Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Glassblowing in Stourbridge


The following article has been written by GSoI member Catherine Keenan. Catherine Keenan is a glass artist based on the lovely north coast of Ireland, in Portstewart.

Finding a glassblowing studio whose hiring rates are reasonably priced, with a skilled assistant on hand, if desired, and the studio is always up and running and available has proven difficult to find over the years.  Since 2009 I had travelled to Sunderland to hire at the National Glass Centre, but with their major renovations last summer I was forced to find a new venue.  So I took a chance on the ‘Stourbridge Glassblowing Studio’, at the Ruskin Glass Centre.  It is part run by my ‘old’ teacher from the International Glass Centre, Stephen Foster who shares it with Peter Fricker and brothers Ian and Vic Bamforth.


A major draw for me to hire their studio is the fact that Ian Bamforth assists me, therefore he knows all the workings of the space and as a skilled maker can offer helpful advice.  He’s also easy going and a good laugh...that always helps when under pressure due to the expense and time restraints of hiring!

Although you will need to bring your own hand tools, with a some prior communication, the studio has everything else you would need.  I would suggest to other irish makers who are flying over to order your glass colour so it is delivered directly to the studio. 

There is an introductory offer for your first day of hiring; £135 and subsequent days are 
£170 each.  It’s £80 per day for an assistant.



If you can spare some time to see the area there are several museums and quite a few studios to visit.  The Ruskin Glass Centre, which hosts the British Glass Festival and Biennale, has many glass artists based there and also the recently opened Webb Corbett Visitor Centre.  I was fortunate enough to be personally shown around the museum by former factory master glassblower Malcolm Andrews.  He also happened to teach at the International Glass Centre, Brierley Hill (before my time) and had very fond memories of a young Paedar Lamb!


Not far up the road (it’s called the ‘Crystal Mile’) is the Red House Glass Cone, which is the only fully intact example of the18th century red brick glass cones that used to be dotted all over the area.  There’s a museum display and glassblowing studio with live demos.  Then, just a bit further still, is Broadfield House Glass Museum which has a huge glass collection ranging from the 17th century to the present day.  You can also watch skilled glassblower Allister Malcolm at work.

If you like real ale I can’t imagine there’s a better place in England to sample a wide variety of great beer in real pubs...that’s another reason to enlist Ian as an assistant as he’s a wealth of knowledge on decent pubs!

It’s easy enough to get to Stourbridge from Birmingham airport, there is a train station at the terminal (connected by a monorail), you get the train to Birmingham New Street, then walk to Moore Street Station (5 mins) and get the train to Stourbridge Junction, and finally get a connecting train to Stourbridge Town.  You can get a taxi from there, or ask at the bus station for a stop by the Ruby Cantonese Chinese Restaurant which is beside the Ruskin Glass Centre.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me via email: catherinekeenan126@gmail.com




by Catherine Kennan



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