AN Amblecote glass centre is inviting those with memories of the old Webb Corbett factory to reflect on the site’s heritage at an open day this weekend.

Ruskin Glass Centre is calling on locals to attend its Webb Corbett Reflections Day being organised as part of a project which aims to preserve memories and artefacts relating to the old Wollaston Road glassmaking factory and Stourbridge’s famous glass industry.

Visitors to the event, running from 10am to 4pm on Saturday June 16, will be able to catch up with old colleagues and share memories and stories with heritage staff who are putting together a new Webb Corbett Visitor Centre in the new Glasshouse Arts Centre currently being developed at the site.

People are also invited to take along old photographs and artefacts relating to the site and the glass industry that can be used in the new visitor centre.

There will also be guided heritage tours around the old Webb Corbett site - now home to the Glasshouse College, Ruskin Glass Centre and the new Glasshouse Arts Centre which will be an artistic and cultural hub for groups, theatre performances, conferences and hospitality events.

Malcolm Andrews, former chief glassmaker at Webb Corbett who has been working on the heritage project, said: “It’s been lovely looking through old photographs and I’ve even donated a few artefacts to the project as it will be nice to see them go to a good home.

Mr Andrews, who worked at Webb Corbett for 30 years, added: “I have many happy memories of the site and I’m hoping to have a few more once the new centre is complete.

“The Reflections Day should be a great day and I’m hoping to catch up with some people I haven’t seen in a long time.”

The new arts centre, featuring the Webb Corbett Visitor Centre, is being funded by a £1.85m grant from Heritage Lottery Fund £250,000 from Arts Council England.

The building, originally part of the Webb Corbett glass factory, was used by Royal Doulton before being bought by the Ruskin Mill Trust in 2000.