Even
though there is evidence that glass started being made in
13th century Ireland, it was reborn as an art
form, and the story of Irish Waterford Crystal began in the
late 1700's. George and William Penrose, two established Irish
businessmen, set about opening the their glass house in the
port of Waterford in 1783. The brothers wanted to specialize
in making extraordinary crystal, so they opened the Waterford
Glass House with 10,000 pounds of seed money and about 50 to
70 employees, led by renowned English glassmaker, John Hill.
After a relatively brief period, this talented group was able
to produce the highest quality crystal that was unequaled in
Ireland or England. The unparalleled quality of their crystal
created a worldwide market and they carefully packed up their
precious crystal treasures for the markets in New York, New
England, Nova Scotia and the West Indies.
Prior
to his departure, John Hill shared the technical information
about the formula with company clerk Jonathan Gatchell. Gatchell
became manager of the factory and, in 1799, when William
Penrose decided to sell, he seized the opportunity, along
with the
Ramsey and Barcroft families. Before dying in 1823, Gatchell
had made Waterford Glass a partnership with his brothers,
James and Samuel, and his son-in-law, Joseph Walpole. Jonathan's
son, George, was to come into the business in 1835, the year
of his 21st birthday. Sadly, in 1851, overcome by the burden
of no money and high taxes, the Waterford Glass House was
closed.
Although they had operated for 68 years, the quality and
beauty of its creations were not enough to sustain it.
The
dream of the Penrose brothers was not forgotten. Nearly 100
years later, in 1947, while Europe was still in ruins
after World War II, a small factory was set up in Ballytruckle,
a
suburb of Waterford and not far from the very humble beginnings
of the Penrose glass house. The new owners were dedicated
to recreating the extraordinary crystal started by the
Penrose brothers. Presently, the Waterford Glass House employs
approximately
9,000 people worldwide and there are three manufacturing
plants
in County Waterford. More than two centuries have passed
since George and William Penrose opened their small factory
in Waterford
and it surely has grown beyond their wildest dreams. However,
neither the passage of time, nor the growth of the company
has changed what consumers feel is the highest quality
crystal in the world. George and William Penrose would be
proud.
