Discover the fascinating history of the Essex company behind the Titanic’s windows and its remarkable journey through time
Braintree: A long time ago, a guy named Francis Crittal moved to Braintree and started a little business. That small venture turned into something huge, making windows for some of the most famous buildings and ships.
In 1849, he opened Crittall Manufacturing Company at 27 Bank Street. It began with just a shop and a yard, but it quickly grew. They ended up working on projects for royalty and even some big political buildings.
They specialized in metal-framed windows and became a global name. Their work included hospitals, shops, and even Buckingham Palace. Oh, and let’s not forget the Titanic!
The Titanic had over 1,100 portholes and 416 windows. It set sail in 1912 from Southampton, heading to New York. Can you believe it cost around £3 million back then? That’s about £370 million today!
Sadly, we all know what happened next. On April 15, the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg, taking about 1,500 lives with it. It’s a tragic story, but the legacy of Crittall Manufacturing lives on.
