Made in Clerkenwell: Glasses

For years, the streets around Clerkenwell were jammed with spectacles and lens-makers, exporting their wares around the world. Then suddenly this vibrant activity came to an abrupt end.

In this discussion with Cubitts founder Tom Broughton, historian Neil Handley and spectacles legend Lawrence Jenkin, we hear what happened, and why a new generation of spectacle-makers are now emerging.

As we open the doors to Second Home Clerkenwell Green, we're paying homage to the rich and fascinating history of the area through a series of events celebrating Clerkenwell's unique contribution to four industries in which it has – at one point or another – led the world: diamonds, watches, spectacles and printing.