Johnsen & Jorgensen Flint Glass Ltd.
Oakfield Works, Stocks Green Road, Hildenborough.
Oakfield Works, Stocks Green Road, Hildenborough.
Wilhelm M. Johnsen and Johan Jorgensen were Norwegian immigrants who came to London as agents for cod liver oil, and polar bears. They were involved in a glass works situated in the municipality of Surte outside of Gothenburg (Swedish: Göteborg). Johnsen & Jorgensen owned the company from 1906 to 1943 and it was one of the leading glass works which exported all around the world. The company was, from 1960, owned by PLM and closed down in 1978.
They began glass production in Farringdon Street, London, and then in 1920, built a factory, with rail access, on the east side of Anchor and Hope Lane in Charlton. It was designed by Charles Dunch and R.Swager.
This was a big works and included a large jetty onto which bottles were imported. The factory made glass phials and hydrometer tubes and this was eventually automated. In 1932 they began to make glass tableware. When the Second World War started, they stopped importing glass and moved production to Hildenborough along Stocks Green Road, as well as a factory in Cardiff, South Wales. When the National Health Service started it led to a boom in bottle making and they worked as part of an arrangement with adjacent United Glass and the offices were moved to Charlton. [1]
They began glass production in Farringdon Street, London, and then in 1920, built a factory, with rail access, on the east side of Anchor and Hope Lane in Charlton. It was designed by Charles Dunch and R.Swager.
This was a big works and included a large jetty onto which bottles were imported. The factory made glass phials and hydrometer tubes and this was eventually automated. In 1932 they began to make glass tableware. When the Second World War started, they stopped importing glass and moved production to Hildenborough along Stocks Green Road, as well as a factory in Cardiff, South Wales. When the National Health Service started it led to a boom in bottle making and they worked as part of an arrangement with adjacent United Glass and the offices were moved to Charlton. [1]
The glassworks moved into what was Frank Woolley's sports pavilion, where he had set up a Cricketing School and Badminton Club in the early 1930s. You can read more about that here.... Frank Woolley's Cricketing School.
The residents were understandably upset about the loss of their sports facility and wanted assurances from the Town Planning Committee that the facility would be restored when hostilities ceased. Quite ironic then, the events that followed.....
The residents were understandably upset about the loss of their sports facility and wanted assurances from the Town Planning Committee that the facility would be restored when hostilities ceased. Quite ironic then, the events that followed.....
In May 1948, a planning application was submitted to enlarge the factory. The plans involved the demolition of the existing buildings which were not in keeping with the rural surroundings. Exception was made for the canteen, bungalow and the rear part of the workshop which would be converted into a welfare and reception room.
The new factory would provide employment for 300 workers, with private transport provided for the employees in order to relieve congestion on the local bus route.
The company made it known that tree screens and tennis courts would be installed to preserve the rural atmosphere and no smoke, obnoxious fumes or undue noise would be emitted from the works. Despite these concessions, a neighbour objected on grounds of potential nuisances caused and the planning application was rejected by a vote of 4 to 3. The reasoning was that non-agricultural buildings would not normally be allowed in a rural zone and that permanent use would spoil amenities. The council did, however, grant permission for production at the factory to continue for two years, until June 1950.
In July 1948, Hildenborough residents voted 81 to 7 in favour of asking the council to reconsider the plan to close the factory. At that time, the factory employed 58 residents of Hildenborough, 42 from Tonbridge, and 22 from Leigh. Their livelihood would be endangered and loss of the factory would result in much unemployment in the area. A good few of the employees were disabled war veterans who would struggle to find employment elsewhere.
It does appear the appeal fell on deaf ears and the factory closed sometime in the early 1950s. [2]
The new factory would provide employment for 300 workers, with private transport provided for the employees in order to relieve congestion on the local bus route.
The company made it known that tree screens and tennis courts would be installed to preserve the rural atmosphere and no smoke, obnoxious fumes or undue noise would be emitted from the works. Despite these concessions, a neighbour objected on grounds of potential nuisances caused and the planning application was rejected by a vote of 4 to 3. The reasoning was that non-agricultural buildings would not normally be allowed in a rural zone and that permanent use would spoil amenities. The council did, however, grant permission for production at the factory to continue for two years, until June 1950.
In July 1948, Hildenborough residents voted 81 to 7 in favour of asking the council to reconsider the plan to close the factory. At that time, the factory employed 58 residents of Hildenborough, 42 from Tonbridge, and 22 from Leigh. Their livelihood would be endangered and loss of the factory would result in much unemployment in the area. A good few of the employees were disabled war veterans who would struggle to find employment elsewhere.
It does appear the appeal fell on deaf ears and the factory closed sometime in the early 1950s. [2]
If you have any more information or photos about Johnsen & Jorgensen, please inform Tim Asquith via the 'Contact Us' page.
[1] Credit to John Smith, author of a book, The History of Charlton, Volume III.
[2] Credit to Trisha Robynns, author of the "Tonbridge People and Ancestry" blog, https://tonbridgepeoleandancestry.blogspot.co.uk/
[2] Credit to Trisha Robynns, author of the "Tonbridge People and Ancestry" blog, https://tonbridgepeoleandancestry.blogspot.co.uk/