A BLACK Country writer and broadcaster now living on the Welsh border near Hay-on-Wye has published a new book about the creation of Stourbridge’s world-class museum, created from the ashes of an iconic glass factory.

‘Stourbridge Glass Museum; how it came into being by author Graham Fisher MBE is a comprehensive account of how Stourbridge Glass Museum was created on the vandalised and burnt-out site of the former Stuart glassworks in Camp Hill, Wordsley.

The book details how a group of glass enthusiasts formed the British Glass Foundation with a vision to create a new state-of-the-art museum in Stourbridge’s Glass Quarter after Dudley Council announced it was closing the world-renowned Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford – which was home to the area’s prized glass collection.

Over the course of 13 years – the BGF and its supporters brought the dream to reality and in April this year a new purpose-built canal-side facility that will conserve and promote the heritage and the future of local glassmaking for generations to come was unveiled by the Duke of Gloucester.

Graham Knowles, chairman of the British Glass Foundation, said: ‘Graham has captured the essence of creating what we consider is a ‘people’s museum’ from the relics of a former glassmaking site that, more than 20 years after its closure, is still regarded locally with great affection.

“His latest book is a fascinating narrative in its own right but his recording of how we arrived here will doubtless prove of immense value to researchers and historians yet to be born.”

The book, which includes a foreword by Lynn Boleyn MBE – a former Dudley councillor and secretary to the glass museum trustees, is published by Sparrow Publishing and is available to buy from Stourbridge Glass Museum and Amazon, priced £10.

Proceeds from the book will go to the British Glass Foundation.