John Jenkinson (popularly known locally as ‘Jackie’) established the firm of Jenkinson Glaziers soon after returning home from active service in India at the end of the Second World War.
Jackie learned his trade when he served his apprenticeship as a Leaded Window Light maker with Elders Walker in Newcastle upon Tyne during the late 1940s.
Using the skills he acquired as an apprentice, Jack, together with his brother Colin, rented property at the rear of Princes Gardens, Monkseaton and bought all the necessary equipment in order to produce stained glass, leaded lights and window panes. These early beginnings soon firmly established their business.
As the demand and trend for leaded windows grew, business quickly increased, as a result of which Jack and Colin manufactured and supplied leaded windows for the majority of the houses which were built in Whitley Bay and the surrounding areas between 1946 and the mid 1950s.
A fine example of a leaded glass window, depicting Diana the Huntress, designed and manufactured during the 1950s by Jenkinsons, is still evident in an upstairs window at No. 25 Canberra Avenue, West Monkseaton, which for a time was their residence.
Some years ago, and inspired by this scene, the then owners of Prospect House (125 Marine Avenue, Monkseaton) commissioned a similar window, once again depicting Diana the Huntress to be installed to the ground floor side sash windows of the property.
As the company flourished and continued to expand, Jenkinson Glaziers moved to larger premises in Chapel Lane during the early 1960s where it is still based. These stand on the site of the old Methodist Chapel, which was bombed during a wartime air raid in 1940.
Colin Jenkinson was a keen motorcyclist, who often travelled to jobs on his bike. Before such an emphasis was put on road safety, Colin was often seen carrying his tools and even sheets of glass with him. Sadly he died tragically in the1950s as a result of a motorcycle accident.
Jackie died in the 1990s, as a result of which the business eventually came out of family ownership; however it still operates to this day as one of Monkseaton’s longest established businesses.
by Charlie Steel © 2013
Local historian and writer Charlie Steel has lived in Monkseaton for most of his life.
His published books include ‘Monkseaton Village Vol. 1’ and ‘Monkseaton Village Vol. 2’, both of which are available from most local booksellers.
Further details can be found on Charlie’s website at www.monkseaton.info or he can be contacted at charlie@monkseaton.info.