Shrigley and Hunt was one of the most highly skilled of several stained glass businesses that operated in the Lancaster area in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

The business began in the 1750s when Shrigley's of Lancaster was a painting, carving and gilding firm.

Control of the firm passed to Arthur Hunt of London in 1868. Hunt operated a stained glass and decorating business in the south of England. From 1878, Shrigley's became known as Shrigley and Hunt, and was based on Castle Hill, Lancaster. Business was strong and supported a successful showroom in London.

Although perhaps most well known for stained glass, art tiles were an important part of the business especially during the 1870s and 1880s when they generated a substantial part of their income. And now, visitors to the first floor of Lancaster City Museum can see a collection of these special tiles on temporary display.

Shrigley and Hunt tiles tended to be in a Morris style of interlocking or repeating floral patterns, or panels.

The tiles on display were used at the London offices as samples of the range of tiles, so were presumably judged to be particularly good and typical examples. Demand for such tiles decreased around 1900 with cheaper mass production in the pottery industry.

The tiles add to the museum's already significant holding of Shrigley and Hunt material which includes two panels designed by E. L. Eaton; a stained glass window and accompanying cartoon in the design of John o'Gaunt; a number of negatives showing figures posing ready for stained glass artists to copy; and two painted vases by William Lambert.

Shrigley and Hunt's business went into overall decline after World War Two and the firm made its last window in 1980.

* Thanks to assistant keeper, Ellenor Swinbank for this information.