Nigel Huddleston, the Minister for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society has given top marks to the new Stourbridge Glass Museum following a visit last week.  

Joining local MP Mike Wood and Brierley Hill ward councillor Adam Davies, the Minister was given a tour of the museum which is the new home to thousands of pieces that celebrate Stourbridge and Wordsley’s glass-making heritage. 

The Minister was also given a tour of the Red House Glass Cone which sits just over the road from the new museum. Nigel Huddleston MP said:

“I was delighted to visit Stourbridge Glass Museum and Red House Glass Cone alongside my good friend and colleague, Mike Wood MP. What amazing places they are! 

“I am pleased that both institutions have received National Lottery Heritage Fund money recently which helps them showcase and protect our proud industrial heritage. I was also impressed by the support they receive from the local community and Dudley Council – who have just announced £1.5 million to restore and improve the iconic Red House Cone. 

“I would also like to thank the incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff and volunteers for showing us around.”

Housed at the Museum is the Dudley Council collection, along with some items generously loaned by the public thanks to the work of the British Glass Foundation and its partners.

The collection used to be housed at Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford, and represents an amazing collection of 18th, 19th and 20th century glass.

With several thousand items, it features pieces from every major period of glass production in the country, including a comprehensive selection of cameo glass, which was the speciality of the Stourbridge factories at the end of the 19th century. Dudley South MP, Mike Wood added:  

“It’s been great to welcome Nigel to the Crystal Mile to show him just how brilliant these two attractions are. 

“Together, the Stourbridge Glass Museum and Red House Glass Cone offer a completely unique visitor experience for glass enthusiasts from all over the world. 

“This Ministerial visit shows that our glass-making heritage isn’t just something we can be proud of locally, but also more widely across the region and the country when celebrating the heritage of the Black Country and Great Britain.”