Red House Cone facts for kids
Red House Cone
|
|
| Location | Wordsley, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England |
|---|---|
| Designer | Richard Bradley and George Ensell |
| Height | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Completion date | 1794 |
.jpg)
The Red House Cone is a really cool old building in Wordsley, West Midlands. It's a tall, cone-shaped brick structure. This special building is next to the Stourbridge Canal bridge. It stands about 27 meters (90 feet) high. The cone was built to make glass. It is one of only four complete glass cones left in the whole United Kingdom.
Today, the Red House Cone is a museum. It is looked after by Dudley Council. You can find ten different businesses there. These include glass artists, potters, and jewelers. You can even watch people doing glass blowing demonstrations. There is also a coffee shop and a gift shop.
Contents
History of the Red House Cone
How the Cone Was Built
The land where the cone stands was sold in 1788. A rich glass maker named Richard Bradley bought it. He built the cone with his brother-in-law, George Ensell. They used it to make window glass. George Ensell put in a special moving machine called a lehr. This machine is still there today. It is the only one of its kind left in the world.
Protecting a Historic Building
The Red House Cone is a very important historical building. It was given a special status in 1966. This means it is a "Grade II* listed" building. This status helps protect it.
Recent Restoration Work
In April 2022, Dudley Council promised £1.5 million to fix up the cone. The building was carefully restored. The newly fixed cone opened to visitors in August 2024.
The Red House Cone in Media
The Red House Cone has even been on TV! It was shown on BBC Two's show, Great British Railway Journeys. In one episode, a glass artist taught the show's host, Michael Portillo, how to make a special glass bead.
