Loughor, with Glass Kiln - William Butler
Theme : Art and Culture

William Butler (1824 - 1870) worked as an artist in Swansea from the early 1840s, his sketches and paintings of the area are a valuable topographical resource before the invention of photography. This oil on canvas depicts the landscape of a coastal area of Loughor, in the foreground a figure laden with a very heavy basket, struggles towards a beached rowing boat. Two figures can be seen retreating into the middle distance, heads together, seemingly deep in conversation. In the background is a factory with a large, conical kiln, believed to be Loughor Glassworks. Documentary evidence on this industry is limited. It would seem that the works were built around 1740-50 and remained operational until the mid-1760s. It was used as a chemical works prior to 1800 and probably remained as such until 1848 when it returned to glass manufacture, this time specializing in bottles. By 1879 or possibly earlier the works closed down entirely.

This Item is located at Swansea Museum in the Library