One Day Diamond Glass Cutting Heritage Workshop
Learn the Critically Endangered Art of Crystal Glass Cutting on Diamond LathesAbout this experience
Learn the Critically Endangered Art of Crystal Glass Cutting
A One-Day Heritage Workshop at Cumbria Crystal
Cumbria Crystal is the last remaining manufacturer of entirely hand-blown and hand-cut luxury English lead crystal. Revered for its exceptional quality, our crystal is proudly used by British Embassies, Royal Families, and luxury retailers around the world.
But behind this beauty lies a sobering truth: in May 2025, the craft of cutting lead crystal using diamond lathes was officially listed as a “critically endangered” heritage craft by the Heritage Crafts Association. With fewer than eight skilled glass cutters remaining in the UK, this historic tradition — practiced since the 1680s — is now at real risk of disappearing within a generation.
This intensive one-day workshop offers a rare opportunity to experience this endangered craft first-hand, in the very factory where some of the finest lead crystal in the world is made.
What to Expect
- No prior experience is necessary.
- Group sizes are limited to just four participants, ensuring a rich and immersive learning experience with expert one-to-one guidance.
- You’ll be introduced to the specialist tools of the trade, including various diamond wheels, and learn how they are used in traditional glass cutting.
- Health and safety, technique demonstrations, and supervised practical exercises will build your confidence before you start to create your own designs.
- You’ll develop and transfer your design onto Cumbria Crystal Double Old-Fashioned 24% lead crystal tumblers, which you will cut by hand.
Your choice of two glasses will be professionally acid-polished after the workshop (included in the fee); additional crystal and polishing is available if desired at an extra cost. Acid polishing is carried out after the session due to the hazardous nature of the process.
By the end of the day, you’ll have a deep appreciation of the skills involved in cutting crystal — and your own hand-cut crystal tumblers to prove it!
Your polished glasses will be ready for collection after approximately four days. We can arrange delivery if required.
Minimum group size 2. Maximum 4. Min age 16 years
Your Host
Ben Seale is a second-generation craftsman at Cumbria Crystal working as a diamond lathe glass cutter. Now in his 30s Ben is the youngest known glass-cutter in the UK and has honed his skill with guidance from our two master cutters Robert and Jitka. Of the eight cutters in the UK know to be working full-time, three work with Cumbria Crystal. A number are in their 70s & 80s with a few in Stourbridge & Northern Ireland.
