Great story, more of the same stuff rich, i really enjoyed reading this section and the prictures are great.

Rich The telling talesman

Comment by Richard — October 23, 2007 @ 11:19 am

I find this information of The Chance work’s very interesting,because I am doing my Family tree and Have an Ancester who was a Manager of a Glass work’s in Smethwik and actaully Lived in Spon lane at the time in the 1851 Census.and his son was also a Glass cutter at the same Place.
their names were Job and Adam Lawton, Job was the Father.
Do you possibly have any Information concerning either of these.
If so could you please let me Know
They lived in Trinity Rd Spon lane
Sincerely Your’s
anthony Griffiths

Comment by Editor — November 12, 2007 @ 5:28 pm

I am compiling the family history of the Perrott family. Philip Perrott was a glass cutter from the 1850s onwards and lived in Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick. His son, George Perrott, became a Glass beveller in the 1880s.

I was so thrilled to see your picture of the glassworks…I shall be including it in my album.

Comment by Hilary McBride — November 5, 2008 @ 11:42 am

I too am researching the same family as Anthony Griffiths and would love to be able to find out if our Job Lawton was the manager at Chance Brothers.
In both the 1861 & 1871 censuses he is stated as Manager at Glass works.
Does anyone know where I can find old employment records?

Note from Editor - Chance Glass archives are now housed at Smethwick Library and looked after by Sandwell\\\’s Archive Service.

Sandwell Archive Service

Comment by Delia Wickham — February 19, 2009 @ 2:32 am

Hi there. I am trying to find information about my great great grandfather who family legend says was a foghorn engineer with the Chance Brothers in the late 1800s. He died in Cape Town in 1901 installing foghorns here. Can you tell me where I could find more information on the employees of Chance at that time. Yours
David Mayson

Comment by David Mayson — April 25, 2009 @ 9:26 am

I have just found your site as I am looking into glass making as part of my family history. My grandmother’s grandfather was born in Somerset & first worked in the glassworks in Nailsea. By 1849 he was working in Sunderland, & by 1854 he was working in Smethwick. On the 1881 census he is still in Smethwick, aged 75, still working in the glass industry, but he is now recorded as a glass maker rather than a glass blower. Some of his family were also in the trade in Smethwick. I have not come across any other glass makers in this area, & as he lived very close to Chance’s I assume he worked for them.

Comment by Pauline Barnes — June 20, 2009 @ 10:24 pm

looking for info of any bedenham employed at chance glass woks

Comment by d bedenham — August 16, 2009 @ 1:47 pm

Hi, i come from a long line of a chance family that came from birmingham and smethwick areas. I don’t know if the chance brothers were conected to my family but I’d love to find out! There also have been rumours in my family that my dad’s great great grandfather owned warley woods until he sold it to birmingham council well before it become under sandwell. can anyone help me find out imfo please? It’s so exciting!

Comment by kay hadley — October 30, 2009 @ 11:20 pm

Hi,

Was researching about Chennai (Madras)’s lighthouses for my blog when I learnt that Chance Bros had supplied the equipment for Madras’ 3rd lighthouse, which was operational from Jan 1, 1844 until Jan 9, 1977.

Would like to have some more information on the equipment that was supplied. Any leads?

Thanks,
Shantaram (http://chennaimadras.blogspot.com)

Comment by Shantaram — December 13, 2009 @ 3:10 pm

I am researching the family history of the BIGLAND family and believe that Edwin BIGLAND born 1815 Worked at Chance Glass works and was involved with the stained glass exhibited at the 1815 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Does anyone know if there are any records of employees or other details from this time. Thank you.

Comment by John B Payne — February 20, 2010 @ 6:37 pm

I am researching my family tree and have been told that my great grandfather Orlando Stokes and possibly his father (name unknown) worked for Chances in the late 1800’s and travelled the world working on lighthouses. Possibly also involved with the Eddistone Lighthouse, cornwall. If anyone has any information I would be extremely grateful. Orlando was married to Charlotte and they had 3 daughters and 2 sons.

Comment by Anita Allsop — May 20, 2010 @ 2:30 pm

My Grandmother was called Banch Chance she was a daughter of the founders of Chance Glass and I am trying to find out more about the history

Comment by Yvonne Powell — June 4, 2010 @ 9:39 pm

Is there any employemnt records avaliable anywhere.My ancestor worked as a glass teaser on 1881 census and lived in Smethwick, so I presume they worked for Chance.

Comment by Lynnette — June 5, 2010 @ 6:47 pm