All you ever wanted to know about The Northern Art Workers’ Guild …. the book out on October 6th

Here is a book I have been waiting for ever since Barry Clark told me he was engaged in writing about The Northern Art Workers’ Guild, which “was a part of the late nineteenth century revival of the crafts celebrated as the Arts and Crafts movement”. 

The book is the work of Barry and his co authors Stephanie Boydell and Richard Fletcher.

Over the years in conversation with Barry I had got to learn a little about the guild but as the publisher’s introduction reveals   “The history of The Northern Art Workers’ Guild until now its history has been largely untold. 

This beautifully illustrated book examines the impact of the Arts and Crafts movement in Manchester and the overlooked history of the Guild from its formation in 1896 through to its demise in 1912. 

Unlike the London-based Art Workers’ Guild it had active women members throughout. 

This new and original study identifies the Guild’s members and their work, together with the exhibitions that brought them to public notice. 

It tells the history of a northern craft revival that was neither rural nor London-focused, but an essential component of the Arts and Crafts movement located in the heart of industrial England.

The authors also examine the legacy of the Guild, in the later work of the Red Rose Guild of Artworkers and the lesser-known Manchester branch of the Design and Industries Association”.

To which Barry mischievously and with a smile told me “It’s very Chorlton! As well as me as lead author, Alan Ward has designed the book, Stephen Hale (a very near neighbour of yours!) copy edited.  And a number of the key figures in the book lived in Chorlton. 

I have their addresses. And Chorltonville gets a mention”

Chorlton Civic Society will be hosting a Chorlton launch and illustrated talk probably on Wednesday November 6th, at 7.30 in Chorlton Central Church, where Barry will be selling the book.

And you can buy it from Chorlton Bookshop.

So that is it for now, but I will be back with more news when the date of the Chorlton launch is announced.

Leaving me just to say it retails at £22, I have got my order in already and publication date is October 10th.