of Kilner’s Providence Glassworks in Conisbrough
of Blundell Street, Caledonian Road, London, N7. (1922)
- 1842 John Kilner founded the John Kilner and Co glass company that produced glass jars.
- The Kilner family had established several glassworks across the north of England during the nineteenth century.
- In 1863 the Kilner brothers opened a glass bottle factory at Denaby Main. The site that was accessed via a bridge still known locally as Kilner Bridge. Kilner products, which included glass storage the Kilner jars were known internationally.
- By 1871 they employed 123 men.
- In 1894 they employed as many as 400 hands (men, women and boys), and were making up to 300,000 bottles of all types per week.
- Kilner Glassworks was a completely self contained manufactory, taking in raw materials and producing finished jars and bottles ready for use.
- Although enjoying commercial success, rival glass manufacturers were quick to create alternatives - and the Kilner family business (by then called Kilner Brothers) went bankrupt in 1937.
- The patents and trademarks of the Kilner Jar were sold to the United Glass Bottle Co in the same year, where more modern Kilner jars are still being produced today.
- The various names of the Kilner companies were:
- John Kilner and Co, Castleford, Yorkshire, 1842-44
- John Kilner and Sons, Wakefield, Yorkshire, 1847-57
- Kilner Brothers Glass Co, Thornhill Lees, Yorkshire, 1857-73 also at Conisbrough, Yorkshire, 1863-1873
- Kilner Brothers Ltd, Thornhill Lees, Yorkshire 1873-1920 also at Conisbrough, Yorkshire, 1873-1937.
- 1922 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturers of Glass Bottles and Jars for all purposes, sole makers of the "Kilner" Jars for Preserving Fruits and Vegetables. (Stand No. G.50)
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia
- 1922 British Industries Fair Page 45