Wrythen glassware, as well as plain, was now made, custard cups, monteiths, sweetmeat and cordial, glasses being popular. On the plain glasses, engraved Jacobite emblems, pertaining to the Rising in 1715 are often found.
Lady Grizel Baillie, daughter of Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont, who was a noted hostess of her time wrote in her diary of her proud possession of Scottish sweetmeat glasses nipt on the rim. During the Risings of 1715 and 1745 the glasshouse struggled through lean years and in 1778 William, and Mary Beilby, his sister, well known artist glassmakers, became directors at Wemyss. Glassware in the Irish Taste was made and owing to the peculiar quality of the sand here, this glass has a most unusual sparkle and colour. It was very popular among hostesses of the day.
In time the art spread to other parts of Scotland , at first to Prestonpans across the Firth of Forth from Wemyss. John Rae, an English naturalist, touring the countryside in 1661 recorded in his book that he had seen glass being made on the shore near Prestonpans. Wm. Maitland in his History of Edinburgh written 1753, states that in 1595 a glasshouse existed adjoining the eastern end of Newhaven.
William Morrison, with the assistance of Paul Le Blanc, master glassmaker, and William Scott, a mirror frame (buist) maker erected a glassworks at Morrisons Haven, where vials,
|