The Glasshouse

About The Glasshouse

The Glasshouse

Originally called the Kirk Sandall Hotel up until 1956/1957 when it became the Glassmaker, it was erected by Pilkington’s glass manufacturers, of St. Helens, who had a large factory in Kirk Sandall. It was for their employees and to show off their glass. When it first opened in 1934 it was regarded as being years ahead of its time. One of the original windows was 20 x 10 feet and contained 98 panes of glass, with dogs representing various breeds having been cut into some panes. Inside there were glass panels, squares and shapes of many sizes and colours, some were very rare and one door was of armour-cast toughened glass. mirrored walls in one of the smaller rooms magically turned it into a vast auditorium where three or four people would be multiplied into hundreds.