Stained glass has been used for thousands of years, beginning with the Ancient Romans and Egyptians, and Stained glass windows can be traced back to the 7th century in Britain, with some early examples still found in our churches and monasteries.
The Glass Gallery in Consett has a workshop where a variety of works made of coloured glass are designed and manufactured. Founded by Maralyn O’Keefe and her husband Ron, 25 years ago, they have been making windows for churches, fanlights, doors and windows for houses, art panels and smaller commemorative pieces for individuals.
Today as shown in the photos, Bridget Hughes is helped by Tim O’Keefe as they apply modern techniques to ancient processes to take the gallery into the future.
Watching the process of renovating a leaded window, it was remarkable to see how the techniques of those mediaeval craftsmen were still being used almost unchanged. The Glass Gallery is another example of a company from Consett producing work that is renowned all over the world and we can be proud of that local connection.
Photographs and story by Chris Bruce, Consett in Focus – Work and Trades 2024
