Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is located in Ditchling, East Sussex, England (50°55′19″N 0°6′59″W / 50.92194°N 0.11639°W, OS Grid Reference TQ 32486 15293). It specialises in showcasing the artists and craftspeople who made Ditchling a creative hub in the 20th century, such as Eric Gill, the sculptor, printmaker and typeface designer, Edward Johnston, designer of the London Underground font, and printer Hilary Pepler.[1][2] These artisans were associated with The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic, an offshoot of the Arts and Crafts movement.
The museum is located in the centre of the village just below Saint Margaret's Church on a site that was founded in 1985 by sisters Hilary and Joanna Bourne[3] as a place to display their collection of local artworks. In 2012, a renovation project was commenced with funding of £2.3M via a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other donors.[4] The refurbishment, completed in late 2013, was designed by London practice Adam Richards Architects.[5] The museum was then opened by Nicholas Serota. It is a registered charity under English law.[6]
The building dates back to 1836, when it was the first village national school. It began with one classroom and a schoolmaster's cottage, then in 1887, the school was extended; and by 1915, enrolled 128 pupils. After the school closed in 1983, the Bourne sisters saved the building from demolition and developed it into their museum.[7]
References edit
- ^ "Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft". Art Fund. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft". Culture24. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Ditchling Museum reopens after £2.3m revamp". BBC News. UK: BBC.
- ^ "The Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft: a local museum done right". The Daily Telegraph. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Adam Richards Architects converts a former cart lodge into a museum". Dezeen.
- ^ "Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, registered charity no. 1126970". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
- ^ "Ditchling History Project" (PDF). Ditchling Parish Council Magazine. Ed 9, Nov 2019: 14–15. 17 February 2022.
Further reading edit
- Cribb, Ruth; Cribb, Joe (2007). Eric Gill and Ditchling: The Workshop Tradition. Ditchling Museum. ISBN 9780951622490.
- Holliday, Peter (2002). Eric Gill in Ditchling. Oak Knoll Press. ISBN 1-58456-075-4.