When did glass windows first appear in Hong Kong houses? | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

When did glass windows first appear in Hong Kong houses?

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Submitted by Phaulkon on Sun, 2012-04-01 21:53

I am writing the sequel to my novel Hangman's Point set in Hong Kong in 1857.  From years of research the best I can come up with is some taverns had small glass windows, the church had glass windows , but the private residences did not have glass windows.  This is based on drawings, descriptions of wind or strorms blowing the venetians about, etc.  I am just a bit puzzled on when glass windows began to appear in the wealthy or even average farang home in early Hong Kong.  You have a fine site.

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Submitted by David on Sun, 2012-04-01 22:00.

Interesting question.

You don't mention where you've already looked, but a few suggestions:

  • Contact architecture departments at the local universities
  • Search the local newspapers for words like glass / pane / glazed in years 1840-1857
  • The Mandarin's House in Macau was supposedly built around 1869. It features windows where the lower sections are open but can be covered by wooden shutters, but the upper sections have translucent panels made from thin slices of mother-of-pearl. It belonged to a wealthy Chinese owner rather than a foreigner, but gives an example of contemporary building methods.

Please let us know what you discover.

Regards, David

Submitted by Phaulkon on Mon, 2012-04-02 00:11.

Thank you for yours.  I will try to contact an architecture dept. as you suggest.  As for the newspapers I think I have been through them all.  I went to the Colindale Newspaper Library in London, the U. Of Hong Kong library, P.R. O., Essex-Peabody, Mass., etc.  Not really any mention of glass in residential homes up to and including my period (1857) and didn't really find any ads for glaziers, etc.  And every storm seens to blow the venetians about so until I can learn differently, I will assume there was no glass except in the churches and one tavern mentions something about small panes of glass.  Thanks again.