Theatre Stephens - House of Culture.

At Bernardino José Gomes Street, Marinha Grande.
This building was named after the selfmade man who ordered its construction. William Stephens, born in Landulph, Cornwall, in 1731, became orphan of both parents in 1746, leaving to Lisbon, where he became an accountant of his uncle and other merchants. In 1755, after the devastating earthquake that destroyed most of Lisbon, he became unemployed. He asked a loan to King Joseph I, in order to built a lime factory in Lisbon, foreseeing the needs of Lisbon reconstruction. The loan was yielded and the factory was active (with English coal) until 1761 - the demand for lime stayed short of his expectations, because of the delays in the reconstruction of Lisbon, and it was closed, only reopening in 1764. Anticipating the needs of window-panes for the new buildings, he accepted the suggestion of the king to reopen an old glass factory at Marinha Grande, in 1769. It was very successful and thriving, bringing growth, development and employment to Marinha Grande.
Stephens became very rich and at the same time concerned with the welfare of his workers. A health and first aid centre was created, and he managed to emerge a taste for theatre and culture among his workers, most of them analphabets, who nevertheless carried out roles as actors with surprising talent, even in French spoken plays.
Other glass factories were built, after his death in 1803. In the second half of the 20th century the demand of glassware decreased and some factories closed. The primitive one is still in labour, with high standards of quality and design, and Marinha Grande still keeps the memory of William Stephens with esteem and thankfulness.