Midlothian's 100 Objects - Edinburgh Crystal glassware

Somewhere in a cupboard you are bound to find a piece of Edinburgh Crystal glassware, perhaps some whisky tumblers or a vase owned by your parents or grandparents.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Nov 2016, 17:00 BST
A glassblower blows into the glowing orb of molten glass at Edinburgh Crystal, Penicuik. Photo: James Gardiner/ScranA glassblower blows into the glowing orb of molten glass at Edinburgh Crystal, Penicuik. Photo: James Gardiner/Scran
A glassblower blows into the glowing orb of molten glass at Edinburgh Crystal, Penicuik. Photo: James Gardiner/Scran

Edinburgh Crystal was manufactured between 1867 and 2006.

Edinburgh Crystal was originally manufactured by the Edinburgh and Leith Flint Glass Company until the firm changed its name to The Edinburgh Crystal Glass Company in 1955.

During 1969, the business moved to a seven acres site at Eastfield Industrial Estate in Penicuik. Between 1964 and 1990 The Edinburgh Crystal Glass Company had a variety of owners, including Crown House Limited and the Coloroll group.

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After Coloroll went bankrupt, Caledonia Investments, with the support of senior managers, led a buy-out of the Edinburgh Crystal Glass Company and the Thomas Webb and Sons brand in 1990.

The new company moved all manufacturing and distribution to its site in Penicuik.

In April 2004, Edinburgh Crystal bought Caithness Glass. In 2006 the Edinburgh Crystal Glass Company went into administration and 300 members of the workforce were made redundant

In 2007 Edinburgh Crystal was bought and relaunched by Waterford Wedgwood.

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Today the company exists as a brand name only, with all manufacturing being carried out overseas. Strathesk Primary is now on the site of the Penicuik factory.

Photo: James Gardiner/Scran

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Related topics:EdinburghMidlothianPenicuik