If you know which part of the country your ancestors worked in, you should begin by approaching the local record office for that area. The Dudley Local History and Archives Service holds an extensive collection of Trade Directories, Census Returns, and Local Electoral and Parish Registers covering the Dudley Metropolitan Borough area and further afield.
In the case of Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Dudley glass industries, Broadfield House Glass Museum may be able to help provide information. The Museum has a large glass library as well as extensive archives. To use these facilities please refer to the sections on Library and Archives. Although we are unable to carry out research on your behalf, we may be able to tell which factory your ancestor worked for and give you information about his particular trade. Enquiries should be addressed to the Keeper of Glass at the Museum, and include a much information as possible, particularly any dates and addresses.
Contacts
Bristol and the South-West
Bristol Record Office, B. Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol BS1 6XN, tel: 0117 9924224.
Somerset Record Office, Oxbridge Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 7PU, tel: 01823 337600.
Lancashire
Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancs PR1 2RE, tel: 01772 263039
London
London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R OHB, tel 020 7332 3820.
Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, tel: 020 8876 3444.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LZ, tel: 01785 278379 (Archive enquiries) or
01785-278373 (Appointments).
Stoke on Trent City Archives, Hanley Library, Bethesda Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent ST1 3RS, tel: 01782 238420.
Sunderland, Newcastle and Gateshead
Tyne and Wear Archives Service, Blandford House, Blandford Square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4JA,
Tel: 0191 2326789.
County Durham Record Office, County Hall, Durham DH1 5UL, tel: 0191 3833474.
West Midlands
Birmingham City Archives, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ, tel: 0121 3034217.
Dudley Local History and Archives Service, Mount Pleasant Street, Coseley, West Midlands WV14 9LR.
Tel: 01384 812770.
Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies, 42-50 Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV2 4AG,
Tel: 01902 552480.
Worcestershire
Worcestershire Record Office, History Centre, Trinity Street, Worcester WR1 2PW, tel: 01905 765922 / 765924.
Yorkshire
Local Studies Library, Leeds Central Library, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3AB, tel: 0113 2478290.
Further information
"Glassmakers of Stourbridge and Dudley 1612 - 2002: A Biographical History of a Once Great Industry" is a book by Mr Jason Ellis which has recently been published. It is a genealogical history of the glassmakers of the Stourbridge district, tracing the ownership of the various glassmaking sites from the 17th century to the present day. The book is available in paperback from the Museum's Gift Shop.
The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry is the principal family history society for the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Advice and information on genealogy can be found on their website, http://www.bmsgh.org/contacts/cont1.html.
The following websites have useful lists of Record Offices and Archives, arranged alphabetically by county: English Record Offices and Archives on the Web, Welsh Record Offices and Archives on the Web and Scottish Record Offices and Archives on the Web.
