William Morris & Co

One of my favourite exhibits in Cliffe Castle Museum is the display of William Morris & Co stained glass rescued from various local mansions and churches. It's exquisitely detailed and wonderfully rich in colouration. I particularly love the pre-Raphaelite style faces.

William Morris and his fellow Arts and Crafts designer Edward Burne-Jones set up a company to undertake stained glass commissions, in the latter part of the 19th century. After their deaths just before the turn of the century, work was continued by John Henry Dearle, who had worked for the company for many years. The company ceased soon after the outbreak of WWII, after Dearle's death.

The panel above, dated 1921, showing angels with harps, came from a war memorial in Temple Street Methodist Chapel. (My apologies for the unavoidable reflections bottom left.) The panel below, part of a larger window showing the crucifixion of Christ, depicts Jesus welcoming and blessing children. It's by Burne-Jones, dated 1871, and came from St James Church, Brighouse, which was demolished in 1971.