Glass making at Houghton in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The article focuses on the history of glass making in Houghton, Yorkshire, during the 17th and 18th centuries. It details the establishment and operation of glassworks in the area, notably by William Clifton, who leased land from Sir John Bland to run a glasshouse producing flint and bottle glass from at least 1691 to the early 18th century. The text also discusses the impact of government policies such as the glass tax of 1695, local raw materials used in production, and the involvement of the Fenny family in later glass manufacturing at Houghton. Additionally, it outlines the decline of the glass industry there by the mid-18th century and the subsequent repurposing of the site.