Wakefield Museums and Castles

Black and white photograph of Bagley's glass making factory, with very tall factory chimneys stretching into the sky

Glass making

The Wakefield district has a proud local tradition of glass making. Local supplies of sand, limestone and coal made it the perfect place for the industry.

Castleford started making glass in 1829. There was already a small industry in Glasshoughton. By the 1860s Castleford was one of the biggest producers, with 32 glassworks.

In Knottingley, William Bagley founded Bagley and Co. Ltd in 1871.

Glassworks used local sand to make the glass and local coal to fire the kilns. They could cheaply transport their goods on the Aire and Calder canal. They later also used the railways and motorways. The industry boomed in the 1900s.

Glassmaking continued in Castleford until the 1980s, when the last factory closed. Knottingley remains a world centre today with generations of expertise.

A man seated shaping a hot ornamental piece of glass at the end of a long metal rod

A press photograph of Fred Taylor at work at Bagley's glassworks, 1950s. He is shaping an 'Empress' design salad bowl. Photograph courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.

Find out more

An old glass bottle with 'Castleford' on it, as part of the moulded design

Codd bottle, John Lumb and Co. Ltd

Discover how fizzy drinks bottles like these helped grow the glass industry in Castleford.
A yellow ornate hourglass shaped bottle with two different geometric patterns and a narrow neck

Whiskey bottle, Breffit and Co., 1926

This decorative bottle dates from a key moment in British history. Find out about its significance.
A long beaded glass walking stick filled with white and red sprinkles

Glass walking stick

This fun glass novelty is filled with thousands of tiny sweets!
A white glass sphere with a collage of different motifs and illustrations applied in a Victorian decoupage style

Witch ball, late 1800s

Could this glass globe protect you from evil spirits - or was it purely for show?
A yellow glass figurine of Andromeda emerging from a shallow bowl

Andromeda bowl, Bagley and Co. Ltd, mid 1900s

Knottingley company Bagley's and Co. Ltd made innovative ranges of coloured glass ornaments.
An ornate leather and brass fire helmet with the Bagley company initials on the front and a lion design

Fire helmet, Bagley and Co. Ltd, early 1900s

Glass making was hot and dangerous work. Bagley’s even had their own fire brigade.
A blue translucent glass aftershave bottle in the shape of a convertible car

Avon aftershave bottle, Rockware, 1970s - 1980s

This bottle in the shape of a racing car was made by one of Bagley’s successor companies.
a wooden mould with a deep imprint of a perfume bottle design and 'Dew Kiss, Avon' carved in the side

Cosmetics bottle mould, Rockware, 1970s - 1980s

See a tool of the local glass making trade. This mould was used to make products for a major brand name.
A frosted green glass boat with Great Yarmouth and a floral design handpainted on it

More Bagley's objects

Discover hundreds more Bagley's glass objects in our Online Collections database.

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