Key Stourbridge Glass Factory Owners

Stevens & Williams (cont’d):

Joseph Silvers Williams. (Photo courtesy of the 'Williams-Thomas family archive'.)

Joseph Silvers Williams. (Photo courtesy of the ‘Williams-Thomas family archive’.)

In 1864 Samuel’s eldest son, Joseph Silvers Williams (1848 – 1933), started to work in the business , at the age of 16 years. With the opening of the new works Joseph was in a position to help develop the business with renewed enthusiasm.

In 1880 and 1881 they brought Frederick Carder and John Northwood into the business and collectively they built the reputation of Stevens & Williams from a follower of design to the preeminent leaders in the field of Stourbridge Art Glass.

Joseph was a benefactor and Council member of the Stourbridge School of Art from the early 1880s. During this time he expressed concern that the student work of the time was not sufficiently connected with the industries of the Stourbridge district. In an endeavor to improve this situation he was actively involved in the movements to establish art schools at Brierley Hill and Wordsley where the curriculum, under the guidance of Frederick Carder, became  more orientated towards glass manufacture and decoration.

The story of Samuel Cox Williams, the founder of Stevens & Williams, and the development of the business is documented in a book, The Dynasty Builder.

The book is written by David Williams-Thomas and traces the history of the firm and the family from 1846 to 1999.

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