Distillery and cafe planned for former glassworks near Dudley
‘Visitor-focused’ attraction lined up for Stuart glassworks in Wordsley
A distillery and cafe is planned for the site of one of the Black Country’s most famous former glassworks.
Plans to create a ‘visitor-focused craft distillery’ at the former Stuart glassworks in Vine Street, Wordsley, have been lodged with Dudley Council.
The plans are for part of a canalside building known as The Newhouse, which is linked to the glass museum, opposite the landmark Red House glass cone.
The applicant has asked for a change of use for the unit, which is presently earmarked for commercial use.
It describes the scheme as being for the production and bottling of spirits, with an ancillary cafe and shop.
There will also be ‘educational experiences’ and visitor attractions as part of the scheme.
The site, which formed part of the White House glassworks, had been the home to glassmaker Webb and Corbett from 1897 to 1914.
It was then acquired by Stuart and Sons, which had operated from the neighbouring Red House, to meet the growing demand for light bulbs and items for the Ministry of War.
The company remained in the hands of the Stuart family until 1995 when it was sold to Waterford Wedgwood. It closed suddenly in 2001, but after 12 years of planning and fundraising by the British Glass Foundation, it opened to the public as the Stourbridge Glass Museum in 2022.
The scheme will now be considered by Dudley Council’s planning department.
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