Founded in 1933, the purpose of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen,
is to foster and promote fine craftsmanship and good design. These aims
came out of the vibrant Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds at the
turn of the 20th century.
Pimbury Workshop
The architects and designermakers, Ernest Gimson and the brothers Ernest and Sidney Barnsley, set up workshops in Sapperton,
near Cirencester.
They developed what has become known as the Cotswold tradition of furniture and has inspired designers and makers worldwide.
Dodo Press
A breakaway group from a Tolstoyan commune in Purleigh, Essex arrived in the Cotswolds by bicycle and set up the selfsufficient Whiteway Colony.
The crafts played an important role in the community and several members join the Guild including Fred Foster and the Dodo Press.
Pictured is sandal maker Stanley Randolph.
Harts Silversmith
C. R. Ashbee’s Guild of Handicraft moved from London’s East End to Chipping Campden. Harts Silversmiths carry on the Guild tradition of fine metalworking
Chalford
Following the death of Gimson, his foreman Peter Waals sets up a workshop at Chalford. Both he and many of the cabinetmakers who
worked with him including Harry Davoll, Ernest Smith, Fred Gardiner and Owen Scrubey went on to join the Guild
Rural Industries Bureau
in 1921 The Rural Industries Bureau is set up to provide advice and nformation to help the development of rural industries following World War I.
In Cheltenham librarian curator Daniel Herdman organised the first of a series of Cotswolds Arts and Crafts exhibitions featuring the work of contemporary makers at the Art Gallery & Museum. Subsequent shows toured to Chipping Campden and Painswick as well as Cheltenham
The Rural Community Council, founded in 1924 to support rural craftsmen after World War I, began to research the formation of a Cotswold Arts and Crafts Society. They sponsored the first of many shows at the Three Counties show in Gloucester in 1926
Winchcombe Pottery
Michael Cardew was taken to the former Beckett’s Pottery at Greet, near Winchcombe. He decided to reopen the pottery, persuading the former thrower, Elijah Comfort out of retirement.
in 1933 Ray Finch started working at the Winchcombe Pottery. When Cardew left in 1939 he took over pottery and ran it until 1979 when he handed over management to his son, Mike.
The Winchcombe Pottery, is probably one of the longest surviving craft potteries in Britain, and was a Guild member
until recently
Founding the Guild
The ornamental blacksmith, F E Banks of Westonbirt,was appointed to a six-month position by the Rural Community Council to oversee ‘the organising of Rural Craftsmen and the fostering of Rural Industries’. This led to the formation of the Guild of which Banks was a founder member.
Barron and Larcher
Phyllis Barron and Dorothy Larcher moved their workshop from London to Painswick. They revived the crafts of hand-block printing and indigo dyeing and received commissions for their fabrics from the Duke of Westminster, Coco Chanel, and Winchester Cathedral.
They were founder members of the Guild
Early Guild Members
The Guild of Gloucestershire Craftsmen was founded with about forty members; they included traditional craftsmen such as George Brint, a basket maker from Quedgeley, and W H Hamlin and Son, fishing rod and tackle makers from Cheltenham as well as designer-makers linked to the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Some such as furniture maker Peter Waals, stained-glass artist Paul Woodroffe, potter Michael Cardew,and the hand-block printers Barron and Larcher had international reputations. The Guild issued a blue sign for display outside members’ workshops.
As patrons of the Guild, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort did much to promote its work
Painswick
In 1937 The Guild began its long association with Painswick.
The first summer show was held in the village and, until the move to Cheltenhamin 2013, Painswick was the Guild’s main showcase.
New York Exhibition
The British Council organised an Exhibition of Modern British Crafts shown in London and New York. Exhibitors included Guild members
Michael Cardew, Harry Davoll, Barron and Larcher and the glass engraver Michael Dinkel
A copy of the catalogue is available in the Metropolitan Museum Archive here
The Guild took part in the
Exhibition of Cotswold Craftsmanship at Cheltenham organised as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations.
The Queen attended the Guild exhibition held at Badminton House during the horse trials. She was presented with a folding tea table by Fred Foster; Princess Margaret bought a log fork
Oliver Hill
In 1953 The architect Oliver Hill was commissioned to design the summer exhibition at Painswick for the Guild. Working with Guild members Gerry Carter and Eric Rice, he produced a ‘gay and whimsical, startling layout’ that established a policy of shows designed by individual members.
A Rift in the Guild
A chance and ill-considered remark overheard at an exhibition opening in 1955 led to a major rift in the Guild. Some members felt that the Guild was becoming too closely linked to the establishment and left to form a rival grouping.
Painswick Show
The Painswick exhibition celebrates the work of sculptor and puppeteer William Simmonds who joined the Guild in 1946.
Pictured are Norman Bucknell and Ray Finch at a Painswick show.
In 1970 Guild members Gerry Carter, Theo Moorman and Bryant Fedden produce work for the altar at Manchester Cathedral
In 1973 Guild member Bryant Fedden organised a Guild exhibition at Foyles bookshop in London’s West End
In 1974 Guild member Gerry Carter was invited to Lesotho for three years with his wife Joan to develop weaving workshops
In 1977 Guild member Colin Gerard
publishes a popular book, ‘Practical Guild to Pottery’ illustrating the growing emphasis on education as part of the Guild’s remit.
50th Anniversary
The Guild celebrated its 50th anniversary with the publication of A Fertile Field, a booklet on its history written by Stuart Robinson, Guild Chairman, and an exhibition at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum and the Crafts Study Centre, Bath
A Name Change
The Guild changed its name to The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen and adopted the calligraphic ‘GGC’ logo.
A Royal Visitor
The Painswick summer show was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales. She chose to stay well over an hour and spoke individually to all 47 exhibitors. This event generated a great deal of national coverage for the Guild
Guild member Rod Forss designed the modular display equipment that is still in use in The Guild at 51 in Cheltenham and at Guild exhibitions
Following recommendations made in an independent report on the Guild’s future, a paid Guild Administrator was appointed.
The Guild established a permanent gallery in the Gardiner Room of the Painswick Centre. This remained the Guild’s focal point until the opening of The Guild at 51 in Cheltenham in 2013
University for the Creative Arts
In 2000 The Crafts Study Centre, with its collections containing work by many Guild members, relocated to the University for the Creative Arts,Farnham, Surrey
New Brewery Arts
In 2008 after a 2.7 million facelift, New Brewery Arts opened at Cirencester. A number of Guild members including Hugh and Sophia Blackwell and the Studio Seven collective have had workshops in the complex.
Our Logo
In 2010 The Guild adopted the star logo and held its first Spring show in the renovated Market Hall at Tetbury organised by Val Michael and Neil MacGregor.
Montpellier Shop Opening
In 2022 after the uncertainty of the COVID era, The Guild opened their flagship shop on Montpellier Street in Cheltenham showcasing the work of our professional contemporary craft members.
90th Anniversary
The Guild celebrated it's 90th Anniversary with an exhibition of past members' work and a selling show at Museum in the Park in Stroud.
The exhibition moved on to Courts Barn in Chipping Norton later in the year
