Gallery Oldham - Glass through the Ages 15.12.05

The day started off as a little cold and windy but dry and the group was a little smaller than usual.

We started in the gallery containing two large stained glass windows. The first one described to us by Ann our audio presenter. This window was originally in the Chapel of Rest at the original Oldham Infirmary. This is a beautiful window about 7ft tall and 4ft wide.

The other window, very much the same size, had come from a very wealthy mill merchant's manor house. The figure in this lovely window represented "Peace" and was surrounded by pictures of philosophers. Beneath the main figure there were pictures of a cog wheel, steam engine regulater and various other items representing the industrial revolution.

On the wall at the end of the gallery, there were etched windows from Chadderton Swimming Baths and also from Public Houses.

We all then tropped downstairs to the education suite and were treated to mince pies - as many as you could eat - cups of tea and coffee and then settled down to handling various glass bottles.

I particularly remember the soda water bottles with the glass stoppers in the top. As a lad, I collected these bottles in the Lancashire County Cricket Ground and returned them to the glass bottle manufacturers in bif wicker baskets. I have to confess to break8ng one or two necks of these bottles to get to the glass allies as they were prized by young lads. Of course, I ended up with a clip atound the ear.

There were fluted bottles, used by herbalists to indicate poison contents and there was even a flat curved baby's feeding bottle with a glass stopper.

Local glass manufacturers made bottles with their names embossed on them. Some bottles had a n indentation on two sides to enable you to hold them. There were tiny bottles which held sewing machine oil and an original coca cola bottle.

A most enjoyable visit.

Happy Christmas and New Year to all.

Joint posting from Ken and Elaine.