Nailsea Glassworks

The glassworks was established by John Robert Lucas, in 1788 because of the plentiful supply of coal for the furnaces, from Elms colliery and other local mines of the Nailsea Basin and outlier of the Bristol Coalfield.

Saltcake came from Netham Chemical Works in Bristol while kelp and other seaweeds were brought from Ireland and Wales.

[3][1][6] Part of the site of the glass works has been covered by a Tesco supermarket car park, leaving it relatively accessible for future archaeological digs.

[11] Other parts of the site have been cleared and are being filled with a sand like substance to ensure that the remains of the old glass works are preserved.

[1] Further preservation work was funded by Nailsea Town Council included planting and landscaping, following the removal of contaminated soil.

[15][16][12] A green space was eventually built on the site and opened on 30 April 2015 by local business owner John Brown.

The Glassblower, a sculpture by Vanessa Marston commemorating the Nailsea Glassworks
Oil on canvas of The Old Glass Works , Nailsea in about 1810
The mosaic commemorating the Glassworks, on the wall of the Tesco supermarket which now sits on the site.
The landscaped green space now sits on the site of the glassworks.