The “little pieces of Sunderland” produced by the city’s glassmaking factory for more than a century can be traced back to an even older story that began in the seventh century, when English glassmaking began at a monastery beside the River Wear, run by abbott and later saint Benedict Biscop.

In 2007, the Pyrex factory that opened more than 100 years earlier and made glass that found its way into millions of homes closed down, with production moved to France.

That long heritage was honoured by a shiny cultural landmark that opened in 1998: the National Glass Centre. The impressive building, made from concrete and – of course – glass, has stood beside the water, drawing in visitors from all over the country ever since.

But now the centre’s future is under threat. The University of Sunderland, which has custodianship of the building, says it faces a repair bill of up to £45m, and the only option is to pull the whole thing down. The centre is expected to close to the public in July.