Benjamin Richardson

of Stourbridge, Worcestershire

1802 Born, ninth child of Joseph Richardson, a master furnace builder who had built the Wordsley Flint Glass House furnace in 1781.

Benjamin was to be the founder of one of the great English glass-manufacturing houses, instrumental in the introduction of modern glass-working methods to England. Richardson's Stourbridge factory was the first in the country to have a threading machine for making filigree glass and the first to make mass-produced pressed glass tumblers. The factory pioneered the use of pressing machines for decorating flint glass with relief ornaments. His firm also became one of the leaders in producing cameo glass for commercial sale.

Richardson is also remembered for his efforts to reduce the cost of manufacturing quality glassware, thus rendering it accessible to the general public.

Benjamin Richardson began at Thomas Hawkes where he learnt the trade eventually becoming manager.

1828 Benjamin Richardson was hired by the Wainwrights to re-open Wordsley Flint Glass Works which they had just purchased

1829 Richardson and Thomas Webb and his brother William Haden Richardson entered partnership as Webb and Richardson, taking over the Wordsley Glass Works.

1836 Webb left the partnership. The third Richardson brother, Jonathan, then joined the firm, which became known as W. H., B. and J. Richardson.

1854 He formed the partnership Hodgetts, Richardson and Pargeter with Jonathan Richardson, and their nephews Philip Pargeter and William James Hodgetts.

1871 Philip Pargeter left the partnership; Benjamin's son, Henry Gething Richardson, joined the partnership which then became Hodgetts, Richardson and Sons (1871-82)

1880 Benjamin Richardson left the Partnership with William James Hodgetts and Henry Gething Richardson

1887 Benjamin Richardson died at the age of 85.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• [1] Britannica Online