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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Frank on July 07, 2009, 11:51:47 PM

Title: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Frank on July 07, 2009, 11:51:47 PM

One that has dropped off the radar, is Kilmarnock Glass Works. Has anyone heard of them?

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Anne on July 08, 2009, 01:24:32 AM

I wonder if that was anything to do with Johnnie Walker whisky, Frank?  They have had a bottling plant there for many many years....  
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/01/johnnie-walker-closure-kilmarnock

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Anne on July 08, 2009, 02:32:22 AM

I also found this book: http://books.google.com/books?id=5R8NAAAAYAAJ&dq=History+of+Kilmarnock&source=gbs_navlinks_s - History of Kilmarnock, written in 1858 which is a very comprehensive study of the town from early times and there is no mention of any glassworks or bottle works in it... the main industries appear to have been carpets, textiles, and later, railway engine building.

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Frank on July 08, 2009, 09:23:20 AM

Yes - had already scoured the web and my paper histories. It was probably short lived but left some marked products behind. Glass is always the last to get recorded. Often in that period glassworks were associated with iron foundries as the glass production used the waste.

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Anne on July 08, 2009, 02:09:41 PM

There is mention of an iron foundry in the book I read, Frank.

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Frank on July 08, 2009, 03:05:21 PM

Any details or just a mention  :D

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: Anne on July 08, 2009, 06:40:44 PM

Mainly in connection with the foundry and surrounding area being badly flooded in 1852 - a lot of damage was done to houses and businesses at that time... perhaps that's what happened to the glassworks too?

Title: Re: 1700s bottle works Kilmarnock
Post by: ckscot on July 08, 2009, 10:22:39 PM

Frank, East Ayrshire Council has a newish website page (see below) that allows you to email a question to a librarian in the council.  I'd imagine they might be able to track down any reference to a glass works in Kilmarnock. Iain

http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/comser/ask_a_librarian.asp