There can be few households in the country without a Pyrex bowl in the kitchen cupboard. Marjorie McIntyre reports on the last resting place of the famous glassware.

PYREX, the humble heat- resistant glassware, has been churned out in its millions since it first started to be manufactured in Sunderland, in 1922.

But it might now be worth hanging onto any pieces left, following the recent closure of its plant in the city.

The shutdown of Arc Glass, the last manufacturers of Pyrex, saw the loss of 240 jobs and brought a long chapter of commercial glassmaking in Sunderland to an end.

To mark the passing of an era, the very last Pyrex bowl to be made has gone on display in Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

The final, simple clear glass bowl symbolises the no-nonsense success of Pyrex, not only in Britain but around the world.

The glassware was first developed by the American firm Corning, in 1915, which offered the rights to make Pyrex to British glassmakers.

But it was only the Sunderland- based company of James A Jobling which saw the huge potential market for heat-resistant glassware.

Jobling began production with laboratory wares and casserole dishes. By the Thirties, it had expanded its range to dinner sets, pie and roasting dishes and even teapots - establishing Pyrex as a household name.

By 1954, the North-East factory covered 40 acres, prompting Corning to buy a 40 per cent share in Joblings. It bought the remaining share in 1978.

Arc International bought the section producing domestic Pyrex in 2005 and its story finally ended last month.

Shauna Gregg, assistant keeper of art at Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden said: "Its closure ends a history that can be traced back hundreds of years to the earliest glass-making with the monks at St Peter's Monastery."

While she would not predict Pyrex becoming generally collectable, Ms Gregg believes there will be some items that will increase in value.

She said: "I am also hoping to include some examples when we renew permanent displays at the museum."