A Window onto the Medieval World: the consumption of English window glass at high status monastic sites in England, 12th to 16th century

The purpose of the study was to examine the consumption of English window glass at high status sites, using a case study of excavated window glass dated from the 12th to 16th centuries from selected Benedictine and Cistercian abbeys across England. Glassmaking in England appears to have only started in the 13th century and at this point was a nascent industry, in competition with window glass procured from the continent. Seven monastic sites were selected across complementary sites spanning the length of England, and 284 samples of excavated window glass were examined, using stylistic, technological, art historical and chemical techniques.

The thesis shows all the window glasses in the study were sourced from France, Germany and England. French window glass dominated all monastic establishments until the mid-14th century, after which time German glass dominates. English window glass appears to have been used in the first half of the 14th century and onwards; however, evidence for its use is scarce, and those abbeys in closer proximity to the major glassmaking areas in the Weald and Staffordshire appear to have been the early adopters. Moreover, abbeys in the east favoured German and some English glass, while those in the west bought their glass from France. English producers limited their market appeal because of their failure to produce coloured glass (whether through choice or a lack of knowledge), while the continental producers could supply both coloured and uncoloured. This resulted in a more restricted range of decorative elements applied to the English glasses.