Glass Sellers Annual Ravenscroft Lecture – The Legacy of George Ravenscroft

Marking the 350th Anniversary of the Indenture of Agreement
(5th September 1674)

made between George Ravenscroft of London, Gent of one party, and John Steward the Elder, Humphrey Kilby, John Kempster, and forty-two others, all Glass-Sellers of London of the other part.

Whereas by Indenture of Agreement dated 27th April 1674 and made between the parties mentioned above, it was recited that Ravenscroft had
erected and set on work a Glasshouse at the Savoy in the Strand for the making of a sort of fine Chrystaline Glasses in resemblance of Rock
Christoll for beer, wine, and other uses, and that the said Glass Sellers parties hereto were willing to take and buy the said Glasses of Ravenscroft, and for other considerations, Ravenscroft covenanted that he would not at any time during the term of three years keep any more than one furnace with two chairs and two Master workmen with their necessary servitors at work at any one time unless the said Glass-Sellers
or the major part of the first thirteen of them shall by writing require that more glasses should be made, and it is further agreed that Ravenscroft
may, in that case, set up a Glass House at Henley on Thames with one furnace, two chairs, two Master Workmen ETC., and shall convey the said glasses to a warehouse between London Bridge and Bridewell, and shall keep two Clerks at salaries of £50.00 per annum to keep the accounts of the Glass-Sellers. There are other stipulations and provisos among which is that Glass-Sellers shall buy the whole of Ravenscroft’s output.