Dartington Crystal
Dartington Glass as it was originally called was established in 1967, in Torrington, Devon, as a manufacturer of quality glassware. Since then it has developed and evolved many ranges of crystal and glassware based on its key skills of design and glassmaking.
The story began in the 1920's at the beautiful Dartington Hall in Devon when a wealthy American heiress and her Yorkshire man husband; Dorothy and Leonard Elmhurst founded the Dartington Hall Trust. Based at Dartington, near Totnes, South Devon, their original vision was to assist the economic regeneration of rural areas through a combination of enterprises spanning business, education, the arts and country crafts.
The Dartington Hall Trust soon became a multi-faceted concern with a diverse range of interests from cheese making, carpentry, farming, forestry and education through to the conducting of research into rural communities.
During the early 1960's, it became evident to the Trust, that to the north of the county there was an ever-increasing demand for new industry due to population migration to the cities. This depopulation and the lack of employment for young people were the basis for which the idea of a glass-making factory evolved.
In order to provide the expertise required for this enterprising idea, the Trust recruited the first Managing Director, Eskil Vilhemson, from a Swedish Glass manufacturer, who in turn recruited a team of Scandinavian glass blowers and brought them to Devon. The factory was officially opened in June 1967 when it employed just 35 people.
Over the following years, glass blowing skills were taught to English craftsmen, working originally to Scandinavian designs and later to the work of British designers. Many of the original glass blowers remained in Torrington and have been a key strength over the years in developing Dartington Crystal into the leading name in English crystal.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Opening Times:
Visitor Centre & Shops
Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5.00pm
Sat 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sun 10.00am - 4.00pm
Factory Experience
Mon - Fri 9.30am - 4.00pm (last entry to factory 3.15pm)
Factory Experience Timetable
MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS ONLY
9.30am to 10.30am Factory open to visitors
10.30am to 12.00pm Factory on lunch, no entry available
12.00pm to 1.30pm Factory open to visitors
1.30pm to 2.00pm Factory on Lunch Break
2.00pm to 3.15pm Factory open to visitors (last entry 3.15pm)
We extend a warm welcome to all of our visitors; however our attraction does include a working factory with access via stairs, therefore, access may be difficult for some. For further information and prices please contact the Visitor Centre.
Prices:
| Factory Experience & Visitors Centre |
| Adults |
£6.50 |
| Senior Citizens |
£5.50 |
| Children under 16 |
Free |
| The Visitors Centre Weekends |
| Adults |
£2.00 |
| Senior Citizens |
£2.00 |
| Children under 16 |
Free |
How to find us:
By Road
Leave the M5 at Junction 27
Take the A361 towards Barnstaple
Leave the A361 and head into South Molton
From South Molton take the B3227 towards Umberleigh
At Umberleigh Bridge turn right onto the A377
After 0.5 mile turn left back onto the B3227
Follow this road for 8 miles into Torrington
By Rail
Travel to Exeter St Davids (or Tiverton Parkway)