THE COLLECTION

Letter-cutter, wood-engraver, sculptor and type designer came to Ditchling in 1907. He lived in ‘Sopers’ in the High Street until 1913 when he and his family moved to Ditchling Common where he experimented with farming and self-sufficiency.

In the same year Gill, with Pepler, converted to Roman Catholicism. In 1914 he was given the commission to carve the Stations of the Cross at Westminster Cathedral, a job considered important enough to exempt him from war service until its completion in 1918. Gill left Ditchling in 1924 and moved to Capel-y-ffin in Wales.

The Eric Gill Society www.ericgill.org.uk is a resource for the work and history of Eric Gill and the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic. Its aims are to promote the enjoyment, appreciation and understanding of the work of Eric Gill and the craftworkers and artists associated with him in Ditchling and to support the Ditchling Museum in achieving the same aim.

Printer and the founder of the St Dominic’s Press which produced books, including hymn books and liturgies, pamphlets, posters, magazines, billheads and notepaper. Illustrations were provided as wood-cuts or engravings by Eric Gill, the painter David Jones and others. Pepler was also a puppeteer and mime artist, writing and producing his own plays.

The Stanhope Press was bequeathed to the Museum by Justin Howes and returned to Ditchling in 2006. It was first set up in 1916 in a stable behind ‘Sopers’, Eric Gill’s house in the High Street, with one of the first jobs undertaken being the production of beer labels for the Sandrock public house next door.

The Press was soon afterwards installed in the Guild workshops on Ditchling Common where it served for 21 years printing books, pamphlets, posters, magazines, billheads and notepaper. Ditchling Museum has a substantial collection of works printed on the Press including copies of The Game the magazine produced by the Guild for its own members with engravings by David Jones and others. The Press is now set up as a working press and is used for workshops and demonstrations.

Artist and wood engraver who first came to Ditchling in 1918. His time at the Guild was short-lived as he left in 1921 to pursue his vocation to the priesthood. He became ordained and ill health meant he spent much of his time abroad but he was to remain an influence over Gill.

Poet and painter came to Ditchling in 1921, taking refuge at the Guild after his experience in the trenches. Here he completed his first major painting ‘Madonna and Child’ setting the figures in a downland landscape. The painting was given to Gill’s daughter Petra to whom David Jones was engaged. Although the engagement was subsequently broken off they remained friends and after Petra’s death the Museum acquired this and other works by Jones.

Stone-carver and Gill's first assistant who came with him to Ditchling. Lettering by Joseph Cribb can be seen in St Margaret's Church and churchyard and on the War Memorial. When Gill left the Guild Cribb took over the stone carver's workshop and trained a succession of apprentices. He remained there until his death in 1967.

Wood-engraver Hagreen was a leading force in the foundation of the Society of Wood-Engravers in 1920 and joined the Guild in 1922. Hagreen continued the tradition established by Johnston and Gill of simplicity and clarity in lettering with his many engraved bookplate designs. Along with fellow Guild member George Maxwell he was a supporter of Distributism, a movement encouraging individual land-ownership in self-supporting rural communities.

Carpenter, loom-maker Maxwell joined the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic in 1922. As well as furniture and fittings of all kinds, Maxwell also turned his hand to building, and erected a number of houses on nearby plots for family and friends of the Guild. He provided furniture for Catholic churches from large oak vestment chests to altar rails. After the Second World War, assisted by his son John, he was kept busy as a builder of looms.

Weaver & Dyer Early in 1923, KilBride came to Ditchling as an assistant to Ethel Mairet. He moved his looms to the Common in 1925 and became a member of the Guild in 1926. The following year he was joined by Bernard Brocklehurst, initially as apprentice but soon as partner. They began to specialise in the production of silk vestments, and revived the gothic, draped style of chasuble in contrast to the stiff brocade garments then in common use.

Silversmith Pruden came to Ditchling in 1932 and became a full member of the Guild two years later. His book 'Silversmithing' was printed by St Dominic's Press and became the foundation for his teaching career at Brighton Art College. He fulfilled hundreds of commission for ecclesiastical metalwork and in addition to working in silver he made carvings in ivory.

Artist, print-maker Best known for his prints and etchings, Edgar Holloway moved to Ditchling from Capel-y-ffin in 1951and became a member of the Guild. For twenty years he worked for publishers as a designer continuing the tradition of fine hand-drawn lettering established by Gill and Johnston. After his retirement he returned to water-colour inspired by the landscapes of Wales and Sussex.

Weaver & Dyer The daughter of Valentine KilBride, Jenny learnt her skills from her father and in 1974 became the first woman to join the Guild. Having grown up at the Guild she still lives in Ditchling and is the Chairman of the museum Trustees.

Silversmith Winefride was taught the art of silversmithing by her husband Dunstan and joined the Guild in 1975. She has lectured widely and was the art critic for the Catholic publication The Tablet. A former President of the Society of Catholic Artists she was made one of the first Papal Dames in 1994.

Calligrapher Ewan is the grandson of Valentine KilBride and was the last member to join the Guild in 1982. He teaches calligraphy in this country and abroad and is Research Professor in the Department of Art at the University of Sunderland. He has curated several exhibitions at Ditchling Museum about calligraphy and typography as well as exhibitions on David Jones and Edward Johnston.