Cambridge Decorative Glass

Leadbitter Glass manufactures and delivers four different types of decorative glass around Cambridge and the UK. We create and deliver Etched Glass, Bevelled Glass, Overlay Stained Glass and Fused Glass panels. We specialise in manufacturing and delivering bespoke glass to residential customers but we have also supply glass to businesses and we have even supplied glass for use in blockbuster movies.

Here are descriptions of the four distinct types of decorative glass which are available for delivery to homes in Cambridge.

1. Etched Glass to Cambridge

Etched Glass or sandblasted glass as it is also known is one of the two most popular glass types we create. The above photo shows a design created with an obscure background and the detail in clear glass. All designs chosen from our website can be ordered in the opposite style – a clear background with the design being etched. The main gallery of our website contains thousands of glass designs to choose from. Our etched glass gallery has hundreds of unique and stunning designs and you can view them here – Etched Glass Gallery. Some of the most requested designs are our Traditional and our Shadows Of Nature galleries.

Other popular patterns can be found in our Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspired gallery and the House Names and Numbers range. We also create unique bespoke designs based on the customers own requirements. All glass is supplied as toughened glass as standard and it can be ordered in single or double glazed toughened format.

Art Deco Door Number – Ely

In 2017 we were asked to create an Art Deco door panel featuring the house number of the property. The client wasn’t concerned about privacy as their door was away from the street so they required a clear background. After the client placed an order, we started searching for a suitable font. The main link above shows you the drawing we created for approval.

Butterflies & Reeds Door

A few years ago we had a client that spotted our Butterflies & Reeds design. Usually this design is chosen for large internal room dividers but this client wanted a small panel. Their 1930s door had a small panel at the top of the door and they wanted to showcase this design. Again, privacy wasn’t an issue for this client and they requested a clear background with the pattern etched. The title link above will show you the glass design to scale.

Traditional House Name Panel – St Neots

Way back in 2013 we were asked by clients to create a unique but traditional House Name panel. We asked a few questions about styles they like and this helped us in the right direction. The main link above shows the finished panel that we created for their home. This new design has since become very popular and we receive many requests for this exact design each year.

Bamboo & Oak Leaves Door

Cambridgeshire clients contacted us in 2012 to enquire about a bespoke pair of panels. They wanted Chinese Bamboo etched glass on one side and English Oak Leaves on the other side. The customers both worked in the UK and also in Hong Kong. The project was intended to be a combination of English and Chinese rolled into one door. The main link above shows the finished panels installed.

Littleport Church Crucifix

In 2010 the St Georges Church in Littleport required a new front door for the 15th century building. A local design company contacted us to see if we could create a pair of etched glass for the project. The glass was to be shaped and toughened 6mm glass for a new front door. The designer forwarded shaped cardboard templates and a drawing for us to create the new glass. As the glass was installed single glazed, we applied our Sandblast Protection to the areas of the crucifix. This is to protect the design from greasy finger marks and stains.

2. Overlay Stained Glass to Cambridge

The traditional design above was supplied to customers way back in 2004. Although this glass looks like it was created using the older ‘jigsaw’ method, it was made using the Overlay Stained Glass technique. This modern method uses thicker and more solid toughened safety glass. The Mackintosh galleries and the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired galleries are some of the most popular galleries that customers choose. All orders placed with our studio are available in either single glazed panels or double glazed units.

Other popular requests we receive are for Countryside Landscapes designs and patterns from our River & Seas gallery. Victorian, Georgian and traditional style designs can also be found in our Door Galleries. You can change the colour of a door to show you how our glass may look in a specific door colour. This will give you a better idea of how your preferred design may look once installed. The Main Gallery is the place to go, to start searching for inspiration. If you still don’t find a design that appeals, why not request a bespoke design be created for you . Send in an image and we will calculate a quote based on your glass specific sizes. We create many unique designs for clients every month. Some of our glass artists have spent more than 30 years bringing bespoke and unique glass ideas to life.

Large Landing Window – Ely

In 2021, we created many overlay stained glass panels for a renovation in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The client wanted us to produce several Overlay Stained Glass Windows for their Victorian home. The title link above shows you just one area of the home with two panels we created for the stairway. The client supplied this specific design as pencil drawings and selected all of the colours from our online colour galleries. The design was intended to flow from the landing upstairs to the landing downstairs. The page above also features video footage of the windows.

Leaded Glass Landing Windows

A Cambridge client requested two large windows with one shared design running through both panels. We created the design using Stippolyte Glass and the clear circles were 3D roundels. As standard, we created a scale drawing for approval before we started on the actual glass. The link above shows the customer Client Page where we sent the design for approval.

Overlay Stained Glass Sun Port Hole

In 2017 we created a simple yet beautiful landscape scene with sunrise for customers in Cambridge. The client wanted a new port hole window but it needed to have lots of colours to enhance a dull hallway. We created the Overlay Stained Glass panel using 4mm toughened Stippolyte glass. Although the design was quite simple in detail, it still created a stunning countryside scene, bursting with colour. The same pattern has been chosen by many customers since this first commission.

Abstract Feature Window

In 2012 we made an Overlay Stained Glass Window in an abstract style to help a client with privacy for their staircase window. They wanted a modern design but without any colour. Each section of the design had separate frosted textures with a clear facet bevel jewel measuring 50mm in diameter. The textures chosen were mainly available from our standard textures range but we also used some ‘end of line’ textures that cannot be used again. Before manufacture, we created a computer generated image to show the client how it would look.

Bird & Sun Gable End Window

Many years ago we created an Overlay Stained Glass Window for clients in Cambridge. The clients provided a rough drawing of what they wanted and we then set about to tidy the idea up. We created a computer generated image for their approval before the glass was manufactured. As you can see in the main link above, the leaded glass design makes up the sloped side of a lean-to conservatory. The whole design measures over 3 and a half metres in length and the design is split into 3 individual pieces.

RAF Wyton Skylight

Almost 30 years ago (at time of writing) we created a large ceiling panel RAF Wyton. The RAF crest was installed into the Officers Mess dining room in around 1995. The decorative glass panel measures approx 1200mm wide x 1600mm high. It was manufactured using single glazed toughened glass. The overlay stained glass ceiling lite isn’t an external window so there is no natural light coming through. At night time the ‘mess’ staff illuminate the design with the rear lights that were installed behind our glass panel.

3. Fused Glass to Cambridge

The image above shows of one of our stunning Fused Glass leaves. These hand-made leaves are used in some of our popular Fused Glass patterns. Our fused glass panels are usually created with an obscure (etched) background with the lines in clear glass. This form of etching helps with privacy in doors and windows. We have many different fused glass tiles for you to choose from in our gallery. We can also make unique tiles with your own preferred colours. Find any design you like and swap colours out for your own preferred colours. Changing colours costs no more than a standard design.

Some of the most popular orders we receive come from the Mackintosh Inspired Gallery The Tree Of Life Gallery is also a customer favourite. As stated above, our glass tiles are all hand cut and kiln-fired in our glass studio in England. We use hand floated coloured glass from Venice and the USA in our fused glass tiles. 18 hours is the amount of time it takes to create a fused glass tile but they are worth every minute. Fused Glass tiles fuse at around 6mm thick when they are fired. These 3D glass features really do give a whole new look to a decorative glass panel. As with all orders placed with Leadbitter Glass, toughened glass comes as standard. All glass is available as single glazed or double glazed units.

Fused Glass Squares Door – Somersham

A client from the Cambridge area loved our Fused Glass Tiles but didn’t want an etched glass background on their glass. They asked if we would be willing to create a clear panel that featured fused glass tiles only. We gave the client a quote and designed the layout as requested by the customer. The link above shows the design we supplied before we started fusing the glass tiles.

4. Bevelled Glass to Cambridge

This elegant Bevelled Glass window is a design taken from our American Bevelled Glass range. We created this panel for American clients in 2012. The panel was installed into their Chelsea home and the homeowner had a piece of fire rated glass installed behind the panel. You can see some better images of this commission here. The image above is a great example of how simple glass features can be used to create a stunning feature window. As standard, a scale proof of your design will be supplied for approval before work starts on the actual glass.

Bevelled Glass Leaves Window

In 2011 we created a stunning bevelled glass leaves feature window for Cambridge clients. The large panel was created using 11 hand cut bevels in the shape of leaves. We selected different shaped and sized leaves for the commission along with a dark Lead. The feature window was made with 4mm toughened safety glass. The main link above shows a photo of the panel after it was installed.

What we do

Leadbitter Glass specialises in the creation of custom-designed glass panels, improving the decor and insulation of homes and businesses in Cambridge. Our reach extends far beyond the Cambridgeshire area. We also cater to clients throughout the UK and occasionally take orders from other countries around the world. Our main customer base comprises homeowners seeking to update or refresh their home. If your front door is need of a face-lift, we can supply you with captivating new decorative glass.

Included with all our products is standard toughened safety glass. Your can order any design in single or double-glazed options. Triple glazed is also available. Laminated or fire-rated glass comes with extra charges so request a quote for those glass types.

Our service

Upon placing an order with us, customers get to preview their selected glass design before the manufacturing begins. Our team of glass artists produce high-quality proofs for approval. This gives clients an exact visual representation of their finished glass. Once presented with the drawings, clients can suggest alterations to the layout and colour palette. We proceed with the actual glass production only after receiving confirmation that the design meets their absolute approval. Following the completion of the glass, we dispatch it to your address or your chosen frame supplier.

We also supply Decorative glass to the surrounding areas of Cambridge including:

Huntingdon – Peterborough – Bedford – Stevenage – Luton – Harlow – St Albans – Chelmsford – Ely – Royston – Hitchin – Bury St Edmunds – Haverhill – Newmarket – Saffron Walden – St Neots – Biggleswade – Ware – Bishop’s Stortford