Broadfield House Glass Museum facts for kids
The historical frontage
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| Established | 1980 |
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| Location | Kingswinford, West Midlands |
| Type | Art, craft and social history museum |
Broadfield House was once a special place where you could explore the amazing world of glass! It was a glass museum and also had a studio where artists made glass right in front of you. This historic building is in Kingswinford, West Midlands, England. It's a `Grade II listed building`, which means it's an important old building protected for its history.
The museum was run by Dudley Council. It showed off a huge collection of glass items. These pieces dated from the 1600s all the way to modern times. You could see them spread across nine different rooms. Besides the glass, there were paintings showing how glass was made and what the local area looked like. The museum also displayed tools and other items used in the glass industry.
Over the years, Broadfield House hosted many cool events and special art shows. There was even a shop where you could buy souvenirs, books, old glass, and new glass art. The museum closed its doors on September 30, 2015. But don't worry, its amazing glass collection is now on display at the new Stourbridge Glass Museum!
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History of Broadfield House
The building we know as Broadfield House has had many different lives! It started as a simple two-story farmhouse. This was built in the mid-to-late 1700s. It faced a road called Barnett Lane.
From Farmhouse to Grand Home
The old barn, which later became the Hot Glass Studio, was built around the same time. It reminds us that 200 years ago, this area was open countryside and farmland. In the early 1800s, the house changed a lot. A fancy three-story section was added to the back. This new part had big windows and a grand entrance. It completely changed how the house looked and where its main door was!
New Owners and New Uses
In 1943, a man named Kenneth George MacMaster bought the house and its large property. He was an engineering contractor. The next year, he sold it to Dennis Smith. Mr. Smith was the last private owner of Broadfield House. He lived there with his family until 1949.
After that, the house was bought by Staffordshire County Council. They used it as a "Mothercraft Hostel." This was a place to help new mothers and their babies.
Becoming a Care Home
In 1966, local governments changed, and Dudley Council took over the house. By 1969, Broadfield House became a home for older people. However, it wasn't the best place for them. It had 44 stairs and no lift, which made it hard to get around.
After Dudley Council was created in 1974, they closed the home. They started looking for a new purpose for the building. You can still see parts of the building that show its past as a hostel and a care home.
The Birth of a Museum
In 1976, someone had the idea to turn the house into a museum. It would be a new home for Dudley Council's glass collections from Brierley Hill and Stourbridge. This idea faced a lot of disagreement! People in Brierley Hill and Stourbridge loved their collections. They did not want them moved from their towns.
The decision to go ahead with the museum was very close. It won by only one vote at the final Council meeting! Work to change the house into a museum began in 1979. The Broadfield House Glass Museum officially opened on April 2, 1980. Princess Michael of Kent even came to open it!
The museum closed its doors on September 30, 2015. Its amazing collection is now on display at the Stourbridge Glass Museum. That new museum opened on April 9, 2022.
What Was on Display?
The museum had nine galleries filled with glass. You could see glass from the 1600s to today. There were also paintings showing how glass was made. You could also learn about the tools used by glassmakers.
Special Exhibitions
Broadfield House Glass Museum often held special art shows. These "temporary exhibitions" featured glass art from local, national, and even international artists. You could see both old and new glass creations.
The Hot Glass Studio
One of the coolest parts of the museum was the Hot Glass Studio! This studio was supported by The Hulbert Group. It was a place where new and experienced glass-blowers could come and create amazing glass art. You could often watch them working with hot, melted glass!
Library and Archives
The museum also kept important historical records. These "archives" included old pattern books, catalogs, and invoices from glass companies. There was also a large collection of photos and recordings. These helped people learn about the glassmakers and how they made glass.
The museum also had a huge library. It was full of books and information about glassmaking. It even held the entire library of Robert Charleston. He was a famous expert on glass and ceramics from the Victoria & Albert Museum. His collection included about 700 books and his own papers. Both the library and archives are still cared for by the Dudley Museum Service.
Images for kids
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The historical frontage
