Over 100 years in glass. Now part of the Cary Group.
From a Victorian glass-etching business in Hackney to one of the UK's foremost automotive glass distribution businesses — the name on the door hasn't changed since 1917.
How we got here
1845 — The beginning
Charles Ernest Pugh (I) is born in Hackney. His sons later found Pugh Brothers, decorating glass for London's public houses.
1917 — Charles Pugh (Glass) is born
Charles Tudor Pugh (II) opens a shop on Warren Street, right as London's second-hand car trade takes off — and windscreen replacement becomes the business.
1935 — Safety glass law, and a new factory
New safety glass legislation prompts the company to start manufacturing its own laminated and toughened glass under the Tudor Safety Glass name.
1989 — Pinxton becomes home
A 42,000 sq ft unit in Pinxton, Nottinghamshire becomes the new distribution hub and head office for over three decades.
1990s–2000s — National network
Branches open across Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and London as the distribution business expands UK-wide.
Today — Part of the Cary Group
Charles Pugh Glass is now part of the Cary Group, working closely with National Windscreens to ensure rapid availability, reliable delivery and outstanding product quality — from a new, purpose-built head office at Horizon 29, Bolsover, Derbyshire.
This is a condensed history — the full story, including the wartime bombing of our Warren Street shop, patents for laminated safety glass, and our role supplying curved windscreens to post-war Britain, runs to over a dozen decades. Ask us, or view the full archive on request.
An intimate feel, backed by group scale
Day to day, working with Charles Pugh still has an intimate feel about it. We don't micro-manage — we trust our people to do their jobs well, with managers who keep an open door and adapt working practices quickly when it matters. Being part of the Cary Group adds backing and scale without changing that.
Whether you're a driver, warehouse operative, accounts administrator or manager, your development is actively managed to make you the best at your job.
Recycling as standard, not an afterthought
Glass, wood, polythene and cardboard are unavoidable by-products of moving 250,000+ units a year. It's company policy to recycle as much as possible across the business.
Glass
Damaged glass from our workflows or suppliers is skipped and sent to recycling companies.
Wood
Delivery crates are crushed and compacted on-site using our own machinery before recycling.
Polythene
Baled on-site with dedicated machinery before being sent for recycling.
Cardboard
Reused in our own processes where possible; the rest is sent to recycling companies.
Note: if Charles Pugh holds any formal environmental certifications (e.g. ISO 14001) or has measurable recycling figures, these should be added here with proper citation — a stated policy is good, a verified number is more persuasive.