Ambitious scheme plans to breathe new life into historic industrial site
AN historic industrial site in the Black Country could eventually be redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme under ambitious new plans.
The Chance Bothers Glass Works in Smethwick dates back to the 1820s and produced glass for some of the most famous buildings in England – to say nothing of the official residence of the President of the United States, the White House.
Today the site, off Spon Lane, is derelict, production having ceased almost 40 years ago.
Thousands of people pass by it each day probably without realising what the site is, as the remaining building, which is adjacent to the M5 between junctions one and two, is best known today as the anchor for massive advertising hoardings.
However, the new scheme being proposed by the Chance Glass Works Heritage Trust could see the site brought back to life and while not for industry, the heritage of the site would be a key aspect of the design.
The trust has secured a £48,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to assess the history of the site and to determine how this could be incorporated into any eventual design.
In order to make the site viable, offices, homes and shops would have to be included.
However, this is a long way off and millions of pounds need to be raised by the trust before any work could be considered.
The factory is next to the network of canals that criss-crossed the Black Country providing the vital transportation links for the raw materials which were needed to keep the area’s famous factories and foundries going.
In its heyday, the factory produced glass for the famous Crystal Palace (left), home of the 1851 Great Exhibition, while its glass is also featured in the Westminster Clock Tower, home of Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.
The ornamental windows for the White House in Washington DC were also made there.
The factory also patented a special reflective glass which was used to glaze many of Britain’s lighthouses – a theme which could be picked up in the eventual scheme.
