I've been reading old newspaper articles trying to get more info, on some of the claims made in a thesis or two, in relation to a glass works on Harrison Street.
Regarding Nicholas French; The Newcastle Journal, 21st June 1851, p5, reports that Nicholas French reopened a flint glass manufactory in Sunderland, which had been dormant for some time, during the past week. During August 1853 there is a public house offered for sale, particulars available from Nicholas French at the Ballast Hills Glass Works (Durham Chronicle, 12th August 1853, p4, for example). This is the time the new glass works at the foot of Trimdon Street is being constructed (Durham Chronicle, 8th April 1853, p.8 - states Nicholas French is erecting the new glass works). N.B. I haven't tracked down an address for the 1851 glassworks, yet (she says hopefully).
An 1855 map of Sunderland shows the Ballast Hills Mill at the bottom of Harrison Street (bear with me here).
In the Sunderland Daily Echo (Thursday 23rd November 1876, p.2) approval is recommended of the conversion of the old mill on Harrison Street to a glass manufactory, applicant being Joseph Thomas. This glassworks goes on auction 13th May 1878 (e.g. Sunderland Daily Echo, Tues. 30th April 1878, p.2), particulars to be had from Joseph Thomas, 77 Old Trimdon Street. (On the 1855 map the streets are labelled Trimdon Street (where the glassworks are) and New Trimdon Street).
The address of Joseph Thomas' glass works are given as the Nil Desperandum Green & Flint Glass Works, Harrison Street, Ballast Hills, Bishopwearmouth.
In the 1855 map of Sunderland that I've been using for reference (6" Ordnance Survey), Harrison Street looks like small terraced housing, certainly the contemporary advertisements for rental properties fuel that assumption. So the only building likely to have been a glass house is the Ballast Hill Mill, which is where my hypothesis that this may have been French's original (1851 in the newspaper/1852 in the thesis) Harrison Street works comes in to play. Obviously, it's just a theory that I'm still looking into.
best wishes,
Lindsey