WELCOME TO OUR Beautiful Britain - The National Glass Centre PROJECT
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Summary: A Look at Some of Britain's Beauty spots - The National Glass Centre in Sunderland
Beautiful Britain – The National Glass Centre, Sunderland
Located in Sunderland, the National Glass Centre opened in 1998 and is dedicated to the history of glass making. The museum is close to the site of St Peter’s Church, which in turn was part of the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory built in 674. Glass making was introduced to Britain by Benedict Biscop, who hired French glaziers to make the windows for the priory.
Glass has been made in Sunderland since the 7th century, but it was not until the 18th century that the industry really took off. With the abundance of cheap coal and the high quality sand that was imported to the docks, Sunderland glass became known throughout the country.
Constructed of glass and steel, the National Glass Centre is terraced into the banks of the River Wear. Visitors can walk around the glass roof and look down onto the centre below. Made from panels over 2inches thick, it can be quite disconcerting to walk across the roof and the see-through floors!
The centre is home to galleries, artists' studios, and production facilities. There are glass-blowing demonstrations three times a day, and the centre also runs a variety of courses for adults, including beginner's stained glass, glass blowing and jewellery making. The craft and design shop has a wide variety of objects made on site that visitors can purchase. The centre also has an award winning cafe and restaurant on site.
The Centre is open daily from 10am – 5pm, and it is recommended to arrive at least an hour before closing time to get the most from your visit. Entrance is free.
Contact 0191 515 5555.
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