A brief history
The Guild was founded in 1933 by Vice- Lieutenant of Somerset, Col. J.A.Garton of Pylle near Glastonbury. Col Garton was no mean craftsman himself as his ironwork and carvings in Pylle Church testify. The Church was subsequently dedicated to the Guild and contains the work of many past members in addition to his own.
The Guild has always embraced a range of crafts: a members' list of 1949 includes builders, plumbers, photographers, an organ builder, potters, engravers, thatchers, weavers, blacksmiths and stonemasons. There were two stained glass makers, and workers in wood and leather. Today, some of these old crafts are considered to be trades but the current craft members' list reads just as widely, still covering many of the above and including furniture restoration, fabric design, stained glass, calligraphy,
embroidery, silk painting, glass blowing, jewellery and musical instruments.It is intriguing to see the evolution of crafts over the lifetime of the Guild.
Through the years, the work of those original artisans has become increasingly specialised; woodworkers are now furniture makers, restorers, chair makers, turners, carvers; pottery has a myriad branches and there are many specialisations in the field of textiles. Throughout this time, and changes in the style of the Guild itself and the way it is run, its basic ideals have remained constant - to encourage and develop the highest standards of quality and originality in the design and execution of work. For many years the headquarters and symbol of the Guild's craftsmanship was St. Margaret's in Taunton, a beautiful thatched and timbered building. Sadly, around 1991, two successive acts of arson rendered the building unrecoverable.
For many years after, determined not to be forgotten by its public and the people of Somerset, the Guild held a major Annual Exhibition at the Bishop's Palace, Wells. The Guild returned there in August 2001 and again in 2003. In 2006, after 10 years or so at Yandles in Martock, the Guild finally found a new home in the Courthouse Gallery, Somerton. The permanent exhibition here is enhanced several times a year by themed exhibitions and features on the work of particular members.
The Guild in very proud to name a number of very notable national and international craftsmen and designers amongst its members over the years, including furniture maker, Alan Peters OBE; internationally known spinning wheel maker John Brightwell; and blacksmith James Horrobin.
Currently working members include humidor & furniture maker Martin Lane - winner of the 2005 Claxton Stevens Furniture Prize for his humidor entitled 'Romeo y Julieta'; Chris Barlow, internationally known harpsichord and fortepiano maker; Sukey Erland, a sculptor with work in many international collections and past winner of the John Brandler Prize for Sculpture, and Dianne Davies, printed textile maker, with work in the permanent collection of the Royal Yacht Britannia,
amongst many others.
