A book launch … an untold story … and a birthday present

I have been looking forward to the launch of 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 Clark 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. 

It is a  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”.

All of which takes me to that launch last night, at which a large group of friends and the interested  heard Barry talk about the Guild set against the wider context of the Arts and Crafts Movement along with how he,  Stephanie and Richard came to write the book which had originally started out as a plan for an exhibition.

And the explanation proved as fascinating as the story of the Guild.

Barry has a light, engaging style which doesn’t distract from his deep knowledge and commitment to bringing the Guild out of the shadows, correct inaccuracies, and place Manchester back at the centre of the movement.

The added bonus was that Tina bought the book for me as a birthday present, leaving me just to say that the launch was in the Memorial Hall, which I had only known as the Square Albert pub a place I drank in back in the 1980s. 

Now my Wikipedia tells me “The Memorial Hall , England, was constructed in 1863–1866 by Thomas Worthington. It was built to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the 1662 Act of Uniformity. One of the best examples of Venetian Gothic revival in the city, the hall is a Grade II* listed building”.*

So a good night.

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

The book costs £22 is available from Chorlton Bookshop, the publisher** and Barry

Pictures; cover from the book, courtesy of the authors, and on the night from the collection of Andrew Simpson, 2024

*Memorial Hall, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Hall,_Manchester 

**Manchester Books, www.mcrbooks.co.uk