There were two glasshouses at Woolwich in 1696, one making Flint and Ordinary glass and the other window glass. John Henzey, Robert Taynton and John Oliver were involved in the latter. The use of sand from Woolwich for glass making was mentioned in 1662 and the glass house was then in operation because it was supplying glass to the Royal Society. It was said to have closed in about 1696 as a result of the tax on glass and in 1701 - "At Woolwich in Kent, is a good wharf, Crane, Glass-house, warehouse, Cole-yard, and several Out-houses thereto belonging, all in good Repair, to be let".