Hartley Wood and Co

On 1 April 1828, he transferred to the British Crown Glass Company manufactory at Oldbury (then Worcestershire), which had been bought up by Robert Lucas Chance in 1822.

The reasons why Sunderland was chosen as the site for their new venture are unclear, but it may have been because other family members (uncles and cousins) were already established in the glass making industry there.

On 22 April 1878 John Hartley too retired from active participation in the business, leaving the Kaylls as co-partners.

Family wrangling over the will of John Hartley, who died on 6 December 1889, exacerbated the situation, leading eventually to a Court of Chancery order for the sale of the Wear Glass Works in 1892.

To revitalise the firm, James Hartley decided to develop the manufacture of antique coloured glass which up to this time had been a sideline.

[1] Alfred Wood's father, George worked for Chance Brothers as a colour mixer until 1873 when he left the company to become freelance.

In 1914 trade directories describe the firm as manufacturers of antique, ambitty and Venetian glass.

This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence v2.0: "Hartley Wood and Co Ltd".