The Arts & Crafts Movement in Manchester

In this beautifully illustrated talk, incorporating many original documents, the untold story of Manchester’s extensive involvement in the Arts and Crafts movement will be revealed.

Manchester wasn't alone in setting up such a Guild though. Margaret Bennett, our very own Victorian Society South Yorkshire Secretary will add a short postscript to this talk on what was happening in Sheffield around that time. In particular, the setting up of the Guild of St George in 1871 by John Ruskin and the Sheffield Artcrafts Guild in 1894.

William Morris was a frequent visitor to Manchester, and the only Morris & Co shop outside London was located opposite the city’s Alfred Waterhouse Town Hall. His now famous dictum: Do not have anything in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful, was first heard in Manchester. The first of his explicitly socialist lectures Art, Wealth and Riches was delivered at the Manchester Royal Institution, now the City Art Gallery - it was not well received! John Ruskin was also a frequent lecturer in the city, and Morris’s fellow art worker Walter Crane was Head of Design at the Manchester Municipal School of Art from 1893-1896.

However, in this talk Barry and Richard will also share recent research on lesser known Manchester-based Arts and Crafts architects, artists and artisans who, in 1896, formed the Northern Art Workers’ Guild in the city. In their new and original book the Guild’s members are identified, with numerous illustrations of their work, together with the exhibitions that brought them to public notice. It tells the story 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 Guild was unusual for its time in that women were active and equal members, holding office, giving talks and showing work at the Guild’s open exhibitions.

Whilst the Guild was short-lived (1896-1912) its members and ideals played a key part in later initiatives, including the Design & Industries Association and the Red Rose Guild of Artworkers.

Barry Clark is an experienced speaker and a retired Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer with a life-long interest in the Arts and Crafts movement. He’s now a craft bookbinder, and chair of the Society of Bookbinders’ North West and North Wales region.

Richard Fletcher worked in the computer industry and since retirement has become an independent researcher and speaker in architectural and local history. He is currently writing a biography of the Manchester-based architect Edgar Wood, to be published by the Victorian Society.

The speakers will be selling and signing their beautiful book “The Northern Art Workers' Guild and the Arts and Crafts movement in Manchester” on the evening. It usually retails at £22 but will be reduced to £20 for us - payment by card, cash, or cheque.

Host or Publisher SY Victorian Society