Royal Brierley Crystal name vanishes from region

The Black Country's famous Royal Brierley Crystal name has vanished from the region for good after more than 200 years, it was revealed today.

A bid to keep the heritage brand in the area has failed. The shop, near the Black Country Living Museum in Tipton Road, Dudley, closed in July but Dudley Council hoped to help the firm find a new site.

But owners Dartington Crystal have turned down the offer and have now moved out of the Black Country.

When the shop closed, the company blamed a change of landlord and the premises no longer being available for lease.

Bosses also said they had not been able to secure an alternative site, so council leader Anne Millward vowed to help.

But the company has decided to focus on online sales and its shop in Torrington, Devon.

Royal Brierley Crystal started production in 1776 and was one of the longest-running businesses in the Black Country.

Dartington took over Royal Brierley in 2005.

Its 10-acre factory in North Street, Brierley Hill shut in 2002 and moved to Tipton Road.

Three people lost their jobs when the shop closed. One of them was Royston Hixon, aged 48, who had worked there for eight years.

He said: "It is a great shame because it's our heritage we are losing."