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Charles Pemberton and Stained Glass

Heartland

master brummie
Whilst much praise has been given to John Hardman & Co of Birmingham, there was a person who probably deserves more recognition that has been so far been passed his way.

This person was Charles Pemberton, the eldest of three brothers and two sisters, who became a glass stainer and artist in Birmingham and had his works at the Bloomfield Wharf, Great Charles Street in the 1820's and early 1830's

According to West's Directory of Warwickshire (1830), Pemberton was associated with :

(1) Wednesbury Church-East window

(2) Moseley Chapel- gothic window

(3) Stoke Church- east window

(4) Erdington Chapel- ornamental window

(5) Hagley Chapel- window north aisle

(6) Sowe Church- chancel window

(7) Ruthen Castle- various windows

(8) Oulton Church near Leeds- Windows

(9)Restoration of windows St Mary’s Hall, Coventry

By 1838, Charles Pemberton had relocated to a factory in Newhall Hill, Birmingham, near the Parade where he traded with younger brother Francis. There were two houses fronting Newhall Hill where according to the 1841 & 1851 census the family lived. He and Francis lived in one house and his mother, sisters and younger brother George lived in the one next door.

F & C Pemberton continued to trade into the 1850's but by 1859, the Newhall Hill works had been taken over by John Hardman & Co. Hardman also had a works in Great Charles Street, then

At the 1849 Arts exhibition held at Bingley House, Chance Brothers, Hardman and F & C Pemberton all exhibited stained glass windows.


Mr pemberton does not only paint on glass, but is manufacturer of the colours and of the frame work on new and improved principal
 
This auction notice appeared in Aris' Birmingham Gazette dated 27 August 1864. Also further down the notice were many oil paintings, associated with Pemberton.

Maurice :cool:

Pemberton.jpg
 
Francis Pemberton died in the early 1860's and it would seem that these windows remained part of a family collection. Francis retired after the take over of the stained glass works by Hardman. But it remains to be determined if there was not a handover period. The address of the stained glass works in Newhall Street (43) was also for period known as 43 Frederick Street.

Birmingham Reference Library Archives has the lease of 43 Frederick Street made over to John Hardman & Co, October 30th 1852. but the Pembertons are know to have supplied painted glass window to Lyme Parish Church near Warrington in 1854.
 
I've come across some Pembertons who may be related to Charles in a family tree I've been doing. Can't see a baptism for Charles or Francis who I suspect were the sons of a Josiah and an Elizabeth (nee Bewlex) Pemberton.

Not sure why, possibly they were Unitarians?

As mentioned in op they were on New Hall St in 1841 and Elizabeth (their mother?) living next door seems to confirm their father as Josiah as there is a report of Charlotte's death in which it says she was the last surviving daughter of Josiah Pemberton.

As well as the 5 children mentioned in op Josiah and Elizabeth appear to have had 2 more daughters and 1 (possibly 2) more sons. Martha Grew (married) on New Hall St with mother in 1841 being one of them.
 
There also appears to be a newspaper story about the Pembertons 25 Oct 1856, described as a strange matter, youngest brother George being kept away from his wife? Charles is mentioned.

And Charlotte's probate (1866) lists 2 nephews - Samuel Grew (son of Martha) and a William Matthews, who appears to be the son of another sister, Caroline (making 5 now).
 
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