English: A commemorative blue plaque was unveiled in February 2019 to honour a South Tyneside ‘great’.

The plaque pays tribute to John Dagnia, who built the Grade II Listed Cleadon House in Cleadon Village, in 1738. He was also instrumental in helping to put the Tyneside area at the forefront of glass manufacturing in the 18th Century, producing a large proportion of the country’s output.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Ken Stephenson, and Mayoress, Cathy Stephenson, unveiled the blue plaque at the entrance to Cleadon House, alongside members of the local history group and with the support of the current owners of Cleadon House.

The Mayor said: “John Dagnia left a legacy for South Tyneside when he created the magnificent Cleadon House.

“The Mayoress and I were delighted to unveil the plaque in his honour. It is a fitting and lasting tribute to John, the wonderful mansion he created and the important role he played in helping to shape the history of the Borough.”

John Dagnia and his family established a highly successful glass business at West Panns in South Shields where they also leased a number of salt pans. The company produced all grades of glass but they were famous for the introduction of flint glass or lead crystal, the quality and brilliance of which was unparalleled in Britain at the time.

Cleadon House was set in 15 acres of ground that stretched out to the front of the property overlooking a lake, grotto, ornamental canal and a range of rare plants and trees. Coulthard Park is all that remains of the pleasure gardens today.

After John’s death in 1743, Cleadon House was passed on to his son James who subsequently sold it on to John Cookson.

It was later the home of Ralph Grey, cousin of Charles Grey, who became Prime Minister in 1830 and introduced the Great Reform Bill in 1832. A monument to Grey was erected in Newcastle. Popular tea brand Earl Grey tea was especially brewed for the Prime Minister.

Cleadon House was later occupied by the Abbs family. It is thought that author Charles Dickens stayed at the house as a guest of his friend George Cooper Abbs in the late 1850s while working on his novel Great Expectations.

John Robinson, Chairman of Cleadon Village History Society, nominated John Dagnia for a commemorative blue plaque.

He said: “The area has lost many of its fine old buildings and mansions. Yet Cleadon House is still standing and continues to hold a prominent position in the village. The house is steeped in history and is an important part of our local heritage. For this reason, its builder John Dagnia is fully deserving of blue plaque recognition.”