Dartington Crystal: a North Devon regeneration success story

The story of Dartington Crystal is a long one, with its roots in the post-war struggles faced by rural communities across Devon.

As local opportunities dried up, young people left to find work in developed urban centres, leaving many towns and villages with plummeting populations.

But as neighbouring coastal villages turned to tourism to support their economies, the region’s inland communities were forced to seek out more innovative solutions perhaps the most enduring of which was the foundation of Dartington Glass, as it was known when it opened back in 1967.

Conceived as part of a rural regeneration project by the Dartington Hall Trust, a social change charity still active to this day, Dartington Glass sought to tackle rural unemployment by training locals in artisanal skills and providing a factory where they could produce and sell their wares.

At the time, the project raised eyebrows in the community not least when 16 Scandinavian glass blowers descended on the isolated town, proving something of a hit with the local girls.

But over time, this unconventional approach has proved its worth several times over, putting Torrington on the map and continuing to provide a source of employment for the people of North Devon through the generations.

But how much has changed since those early days?

We joined head of marketing and retail Stephanie Wright on a factory tour to find out.

Although the Dartington Trust sold their last stake in Dartington Glass in the mid-1990s, the company remains a community-first employer, providing opportunities for generations of local people.

“Almost all of our employees come from within the local area,” Stephanie explained.

“And we keep it in the family too, with many people following their parents and grandparents into various roles within the company. We're the biggest employer in the Torrington area, and we're really proud of the community that we've built.”

Over the years, this vital role in Torrington’s history has seen Dartington Crystal emerge not just as a major employer but as a tourist destination in its own right.

And recent renovations have helped cement the factory as a key stop on any tour of North Devon’s most popular attractions.

Back in 2022, work began to redevelop the shop and visitors centre into a modern facility worthy of the thousands of visitors who flock here every year.

And now, the final stage is complete, with the opening of a new-look cafe early last week.

Touring the revamped visitors centre, the Gazette learned about the new interactive facilities for adults and children, including a creative activity hub, live demonstrations of small-scale studio glass manufacturing, an event space, and a cinema room.

There’s even a museum tracing the history of Dartington Crystal, from the early days of the Scandinavian master blowers to some of the company’s modern highlights such as its appointment as the official glass producer of the 2012 Olympics.

We also had the opportunity to watch master engraver Nick Davey at work, showcasing the skills that he has honed during his 40 years in the industry.

According to Stephanie, Nick has worked on commissions for various heads of state, royalty, and even the Pope.

While Nick and his colleague Lauren are responsible for engraving many of Dartington Crystal’s pieces by hand, other commissions such as those requested by corporate clients are completed using cutting-edge machines.

Bucking the trend of many historic manufacturers in the region, the factory floor at Dartington remains just as busy today as it was many decades ago, with several young apprentices learning the art of glass blowing a craft that will take them a full decade to master.

And it’s this dedication to their people that has allowed Dartington’s success to continue into the 21st century as the only remaining large-scale glass manufacturer in the UK.

In fact, the latest trainees are set to take centre stage with the Artisan Collection, a showcase of their creations that is due to be released next month.

Meanwhile, visitors can watch them hard at work during the factory tour, carefully manipulating molten balls of glass into an endless array of intricate designs some of which have been consistent best-sellers for over half a century.

Like many local businesses, Dartington Crystal has had to keep evolving with the times in order to remain a success.

But this latest incarnation looks set to remain a jewel in Torrington’s crown for many years to come.