Restoration plans for Chance School House, Smethwick
07 May 2026
Published in: Member News
Open Day! Join us as we open the doors to our plans for the future restoration and reuse of a piece of Chance Brothers heritage.
OPEN DAY
Be Part of the Next Chapter
We’re opening the doors to the Chance School House as we begin an exciting journey to restore and revive this remarkable piece of Chance Brothers history.
The Chance School House stands as a powerful reminder of Smethwick’s extraordinary industrial and social heritage. Founded by the pioneering Chance Brothers glassmakers, manufacturers of the lighthouse lenses that guided ships around the world, the glass for the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first UV-protective sunglasses, and cathode tubes for John Logie Baird, the company was known not only for innovation, but also for education and philanthropy.
More than 10,000 local children passed through the School House doors.
Here, they were taught Mechanics and Art alongside Geography, Maths, and English, remaining in education until the age of 12 before beginning work alongside family members at the glassworks on Spon Lane, the first apprenticeships!
Today, we are at the very beginning of a new chapter.
Our vision is to restore the School House and transform it into a vibrant space for the local community, including opportunities for freelance creatives, learning, heritage, and collaboration for generations to come.
We invite you to join us at our Open Day to:
- Discover the fascinating history of the building.
- Explore the School House itself.
- Learn more about our restoration plans.
- Help shape its future as a community space.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our vision for bringing the Chance School House back to life.
For more information about our work and vision, please visit: Chance Heritage Trust www.chanceht.org
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