A Heavy 19th Century Sunderland Bridge Tumbler c1830

Heading : 19^th century ‘Sunderland Bridge’ tumbler
Date : c1830
Period : William IV–Victoria
Origin : England
Colour : Clear
Bowl : A bucket bowl engraved monogram “WB” below engraved pendants. A two-masted ship sailing below the Sunderland Bridge;
Pontil : Polished
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 11.0cm tall with a 9.4 cm bowl and a 8.2cm base
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks. clean and clear; minimal light wear to the base
Restoration : None
Weight : 449 grams

Additional Information:

The vast majority of glasses depicting the Sunderland Bridge are rummers. Tumblers and Tankards are far fewer in number.

The 1796 Sunderland Road Bridge. as it should be properly known. was considered to be a major engineering achievement of its day. It had to overcome two significant factors in its construction – the precipitous nature of the banks of the River Wear at the chosen location. and the fact that the gorge was some 85 yards wide. It also had to be constructed as a single span so as not to impede the tall-masted ships which would pass under it. laden with coal from up-river.

Some 50.000 people attended the opening of the bridge on 9th August 1796. an opportunity for the production of commemorative wares by enterprising glass makers. The bridge had a toll for both wagons and pedestrians. but in spite of this revenue stream the financier behind the project. MP for County Durham. Mr Rowland Burdon ran into financial difficulties. In 1815 a parliament-approved lottery awarded the winner a share of the toll revenues. which included ships and ferries that travelled beneath the bridge itself. The bridge was reconstructed by a certain Robert Stephenson and re-opened in 1859.

Also instrumental in the early design work for the bridge – particularly the adoption of the single-arched cast iron span construction – was one Thomas Paine. son of Lewes in Sussex. father of American independence having published The Rights Of Man and the inspiration behind a particularly fine ale much favoured the members of our backroom staff…

References : This engraving is more commonly found on Rummers. which are detailed in the following sources:

English. Scottish & Irish Table Glass – G. Bernard Hughes – Page 193 Figure 139.

Nineteenth Century British Glass – Hugh Wakefield – Plate 46B.

The Arthur Negus Guide To British Glass – John Brooks – Page 105 Plate 100 and Page 117 Plate 106.

Starting to Collect Antique Glass – John Sandon – Page 46.

Decanters and Glasses -Therle Hughes – Page 20 Plate 13.