In 1965–66 Jonah Jones made four large dalle de verre windows for the Church of the English Martyrs at Hillmorton, Rugby (shown here in numerical order). This was one of three projects on which he worked with E Bower Norris, of the respected architects’ firm Sandy and Norris.
Each window measured 3.6 m (12 ft) from apex to bottom and 9 m (30 ft) wide – the largest dalle de verre windows Jonah ever made. The designs were based on the theme of the crown of thorns.
Unfortunately, some of the windows, particularly the south-facing ones, suffered damage due to heat expansion and insufficient support for the considerable weight of the panels. As a result, cracks developed in some of the panels and a few dalles fell out. The parish decided against repairing the windows, instead removing them in 2012. The glass was badly stored outside the church and consequently the windows were completely lost. Click here to read our article in 2014 about the destruction of the windows.
Detail, window 1.
Photographs by Stephen Brayne.
Available as a photographic print from the Jonah Jones Store (link).