The Stained Glass Museum

Located in the magnificent setting of the south triforium of Ely Cathedral, the Stained Glass Museum is the only museum in the UK solely dedicated to the ancient art and craft of stained glass, which has been practised in Britain for almost 1,500 years. Once almost solely confined to church buildings and manor houses whose patrons could afford luxurious coloured glass windows, from the 19th century stained glass also became popular in secular buildings. In recent times it has been used to enliven and form part of the main structure of corporate buildings, hotels, community and shopping centres.

The Stained Glass Museum has given new life to hundreds of windows removed from redundant buildings across the British Isles, since its foundation in 1972. This guide describes and illustrates highlights from the Museum’s growing collection of over 1,000 stained glass panels and windows, from the 13th century through to the present day, as well as associated designs, sketches, cartoons and tools.