On the 12th of September, 1823, the inhabitants of Newcastle and
Gateshead were gratified with a spectacle which in that part was novel
and peculiarly interesting, although in London it is common. It was a
procession through the principal streets, of the workmen employed in
several of the glass-houses, each bearing in his hand a specimen of the
art, remarkable either for its curious construction, or its beauty and
elegance. The morning was ushered in with the ringing of bells, and
notice of the intended procession having been previously circulated,
numbers of people crowded the streets. A little after twelve o’clock it
moved forward along the Close, amid the cheers of the assembled
multitude, the firing of cannon and the ringing of bells, and preceded
by the band of the Tyne Hussars. It was composed of the workmen of the
Northumberland, the South Shields, the Wear (Sunderland), the Durham and
British (Gateshead), the Stourbridge (Gateshead), and the North Shields
glass companies, arranged according to the seniority of their respective
houses, and each distinguished by appropriate flags. The sky was clear,
and the rays of the sun, falling upon the glittering utensils and
symbols, imparted richness and grandeur to their appearance. The hat of
almost every person in it was decorated with a glass feather, whilst a
glass star sparkled on the breast, and a chain or collar of variegated
glass hung round the neck; some wore sashes round the waist. Each man
carried in his hand a staff, with a cross piece on the top, displaying
one or more curious or beautiful specimens of art. These elevations
afforded a sight of the different vessels, consisting of a profusion of
decanters, glasses, goblets, jugs, bowls, dishes, &c., the staple
articles of the trade, in an endless variety of elegant shape, and of
exquisite workmanship, with several other representations remarkable
either for excellence of manufacture or for curious construction.
Amongst these were two elegant bird-cages, containing birds, which sung
at periods during the procession. A salute was fired several times from
a fort mounted with glass cannon, to the astonishment of the spectators;
a glass bugle which sounded the halts, and played several marches, was
much admired for its sweetness and correctness of tone. Several elegant
specimens of stained glass were exhibited; many of the men wore glass
hats and carried glass swords. When the procession arrived at the
mansion-house it halted, while a salute was fired from the glass cannon;
the procession then moved forward, passing along the bridge, through
Gateshead, and then returned and paraded through the principal streets
of Newcastle, to dinners provided at different inns.
Mr. John Sykes, in the volume of “Local Records” published by him at
Newcastle, from whence this account is taken, says, “that a procession
of this kind is highly commendable, not as a mere _unmeaning show_
calculated for caricature, but as exhibiting to public view some of the
finest efforts of human industry and genius.”
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