3 - The First Five Years

After its founding in 1827, little is heard directly of the company until the early 1830s. However by looking at early commercial directories and the 1841 census, we can draw a few conclusions.

Commercial Directories

The commercial directories of Manchester show us that the company was called "Maginnis, Molineaux and Co." until William Maginnis left the business in 1831. They also tell us that three of the five founders of the firm were living on Mill Street, Ancoats, in the early years - William Maginnis, Owen Ellis and Thomas Webb. Thomas Molineaux was living equally close to the factory around the Bradford Road area, whereas his brother Boulton Molineaux was firmly rooted in the Warrington area nearly 20 miles away.

Although some years further on, the 1841 census for Ancoats is useful in showing the distribution of glass workers around the factory. Both Kirby Street, where the factory was located with other domestic dwellings, and especially Mill Street, adjacent to it, housed many employees and relatives.

The company was regarded as the parent establishment of the glass trade in Manchester, and in its first few years, the only likely competition was from the agents of the Warrington glass firms. The very first company entries in the commercial directories for 1828 and 1829 list Maginnis, Molineaux & Co. as "Flint Glass Manufacturers and wholesale dealers in wine bottles." They were also credited with supplying the first lamps on the Manchester to Liverpool railway circa 1830.

Alex Werner of the Museum of London has made the further discovery that as Maginnis & Co., the company supplied items to Wyllie's of London, a firm of wholesalers and glass cutters, as far back as the late 1820s.

Show Room

The main works building was on the south side of Kirby Street. By 1830 a show room had opened on Canal Street.

Newspaper advert - 31st December 1830

MANCHESTER FLINT GLASS WORKS, Canal Street, Ancoats - The proprietors of the Flint Glass Works avail themselves of the opportunity to return their grateful acknowledgements to the gentry and public of Manchester and its vicinity, for the encouragement given to their establishment, and again respectfully beg the continuance of their favours. They invite the public to the inspection of their manufacture in the Show Room connected with the works.

Watercolour of McConnel Mills, Ancoats, circa 1820

A contemporary painting of one of the large mill buildings on the edge of the Ancoats glass area.

Molineaux & Webb would have used the canal pictured to transport goods.

Same Scene in 2008

The glass factory of Percival & Vickers was built behind these buildings in the 1840s.

Manchester Rate Books

From 1781 onwards, Rate Books were produced in central Manchester every 10 years. They revealed who owned or occupied property in the town, and also showed the principal use of the building and an estimation of the rateable value. The 1831 Manchester Rate Books show the company appearing for the first time with its works in Kirby Street. Thomas Webb was renting his house on Mill Street and he had ownership of another building around the company site on Kirby Street.

Later in 1831, William Maginnis left the business to eventually form his own family glass company, the Albion Glass Works. Maginnis, Molineaux & Co. was renamed to "Molineaux, Webb, Ellis & Co.", with four of the original five founder members still present - Thomas Molineaux, Thomas Webb, Owen Ellis and Boulton Molineaux. It is suspected that Thomas Molineaux became the lead figure in the firm at this point.

The Reform Act of 1832

In 1832, Manchester and Salford were given the right to elect members to parliament, and the first electoral rolls of the town date from this time. To celebrate the event, a large procession took place on the 9th August 1832. The procession was fronted by the dignitaries of Manchester and Salford, followed by representatives of the trades of the towns, with various societies at the rear.

Starting from Salford Crescent, passing through Shudehill and Great Ancoats Street, they marched to Ardwick Green (view Google Map) where the highlight of the festivities was a Balloon ascent.

The procession notice survives in the Manchester Archives. Of the 29 trade groups marching on the day, the company of "Mollineux, McGinnis and Co." was listed at number 20, sandwiched between the Fringe Weavers and Upholsterers. Also supposedly representing the glass trade were the men of "Robinson, Perrin & Co.", though their name had been crossed off the list on the surviving procession notice. It should be noted that "Mollineux, McGinnis and Co." should really have been named as "Molineaux, Webb, Ellis & Co" at this point in history.

Each group in the procession had to supply information to the organisers on their display. The letter from Molineaux, Webb, Ellis & Co. has survived at the Manchester Archives. Although it is not signed, it is filed under the name of "Jesse Webb", who can only be the glassblowing brother of Thomas Webb.

Here is a transcription of the letter, dated 4th August 1832:

Messrs Molineaux Webb Ellis & Co

Then A Band of Music

The proprietors of the Works <erased>

A man bearing a Silk Flag motto W. Rex on the reverse “Success to the Glass Trade.”

Glass Blowers with glass hats decorated with ribbons & appropriate mottos inscribed viz “Old England For Ever” “Abolishion of all monopolies” “Success to the Town & Trade of Manchester” - accoutred with glass Swords.

Two large goblets carried by men adorned with rich superb spun glass wigs, one of them containing 10 Gallons - inscribed with the sentiment “10 Gallons bumper to the Happiness of the People” the other containing 7 Gallons with the popular inscription “Earl Grey and his Majestys Ministers” emblazoned in the centre with the Dove carrying the olive branch and on the reverse side “Old England For Ever”.

Two immensely large Lobby Lamps surmounted with Globes Silvered carried by men in Glass Wigs - one tastefully cut Vine & Grapes and the other beautifully painted Rose Thistle and Shamrock.

Fish Globe and Birdcage with a canary bird & fish swimming around.

Two large globes Silvered both ornamented with the crown and sceptre and on the reverse side of one “Long Life to the King” and on the other “Peace Reform & Retrenchment” - several glass crowns ornamented with neat silvered globes carried by the apprentices followed by the glass cutters with a Union Jack carried before them - 3 a breast each carrying a Blue Wand decorated with Red & Blue Ribbon bearing rich & various displays of ornamented glass.

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