Archbishop of Birmingham to launch book of historic city company John Hardman & Son

May 1 2008 Submitted by Chris Gilbert

A BIRMINGHAM company which has supplied furnisings and fixtures to some of the greatest buildings all over the world celebrates its 170th anniversary.

John Hardman & Son, which operates from Lightwoods House in Birmingham has supplied glass, brass and silverware, furniture in the Gothic Revival style since 1838.

Clients have included the Houses of Parliament and St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and now a book celebrating the company's history has been published.

A birthday celebration takes place on May 3 in the Grimshaw Room at St. Chad's features the launch of 'Hardman of Birmingham: Goldsmith and Glasspainter by Michael Fisher' , full of  photographs of Birmingham's artistic expertise which has dominated the field for nearly two centuries.

The guest of honour is the Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham.

Coinciding with the book launch, Hardma's had just finished its latest export order of four huge stained glass windows for a church in Chicago, and has secured significant orders for the supply of nearly 50 windows for a church in Atlanta, Georgia and the renewal of windows in the English church in Shanghai.