Shrigley and Hunt
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Stained glass, decorative art tiles |
| Founded | 1750s |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Lancaster , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, parts of mainland Europe |
Key people | Arthur Hunt, Joseph Fisher, Carl Almquist, E. H. Jewitt |
| Products | Stained-glass windows, decorative art tiles, stencilled wall and ceiling designs |
Shrigley and Hunt was a British company renowned for its production of stained-glass windows and decorative art tiles.
History
The firm traces its roots back to the 1750s, initially established as a business focused on painting, carving, and gilding in Lancaster, Lancashire.
In 1868, Arthur Hunt, originally from London and having trained under designer Henry Holiday at Heaton, Butler & Bayne, assumed leadership. Drawing inspiration from Holiday, Hunt prioritized creating biblical figures that were more vivid and lifelike. Prominent designers such as Carl Almquist and E. H. Jewitt, both protégés of Holiday, contributed significantly to the company’s artistic output.
Starting in 1878, the enterprise operated under the name Shrigley and Hunt from its location on Castle Hill in Lancaster, directly opposite Lancaster Castle, while maintaining a showroom presence in London.
Following Hunt’s passing in 1917, Joseph Fisher took over management. After World War II, the firm moved to West Road in Lancaster; however, a fire in 1973 severely damaged these facilities. The company ultimately ceased operations after Fisher died in 1982.
Shrigley and Hunt created stained-glass windows for numerous ecclesiastical buildings, including the Priory Church of St Mary in Lancaster and St Paul's Church in Scotforth. Their work can be found throughout the United Kingdom and parts of mainland Europe.
In addition to stained glass, the company manufactured ceramic tiles—a significant source of income during the late 19th century—with surviving examples located near their former workshop on Castle Hill. They also crafted decorative elements such as stencilled designs for walls and ceilings.
Lancaster City Museum preserves an important collection of Shrigley and Hunt artifacts, including panels by E. L. Eaton, a stained-glass window accompanied by its cartoon depicting John O'Gaunt, photographic negatives used by artists for reference, and painted vases created by William Lambert. Unfortunately, most other archival materials were destroyed in a fire.
List of works
By the late 1930s, the company had published an extensive catalogue detailing their stained-glass installations in churches and public buildings.
England
- St. Paul's Church, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Faith, Fortitude and Charity, 1885)
- St. Mary's Church, Amersham, Buckinghamshire (Annunciation, 1905)
- St. James' Church, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire (Three Marys, 1894)
- St. Andrew's Church, Dent, Cumbria (1912)
- St. Clement's Church, Urmston, Greater Manchester (Martha and Mary)
- St. Boniface's Church, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight (St. Faith and St. John the Baptist)
- Holy Trinity Church, Blackpool, Lancashire
- St. Thomas' Church, Garstang, Lancashire (Ascension of Christ, 1877)
- St. Oswald's Church, Preesall, Lancashire (Annunciation and Gift of Tongues, 1971)
- St. Michael's Church, St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire (1936)
- St. Mary's Church, East Bilney, Norfolk (St. Michael and St. Alban)
- St. Mary's Church, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire (Last Supper, 1897)
- St. Oswald's Church, Askrigg, North Yorkshire (Memorial to Metcalfe Thwaite, 1932)
- Bradford Cathedral, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Memorial to Cecil Rhodes and Parkinson, 1898)
- Old Christ Church, Waterloo, Merseyside
Scotland
- Govan Old Parish Church, Govan, Glasgow
Northern Ireland
- Mountjoy Parish Church, Cappagh, County Tyrone (War memorial for those fallen 1939–1945, installed 1950)
Spain
- All Saints' Church, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife in the Canary Islands (East Window, 1893)
See also
References
Footnotes
- Bibliography
External links
- Archival silent film showing window production at Shrigley & Hunt circa 1948 Created by Sam Hanna, Burnley (Vimeo – North West Film Archive)
- Shrigley & Hunt in Welsh Stained Glass (23 photographs)
- British stained glass artists and manufacturers
- Glassmaking companies of England
- Defunct glassmaking companies
- Defunct companies of England
- British companies established in 1750
- Manufacturing companies established in 1750
- Design companies disestablished in 1982
- 1750 establishments in England
- 1982 disestablishments in England
- British companies disestablished in 1982