The Lace Guild is the largest organisation for lacemakers in the British Isles, whose membership is drawn from both the British Isles and internationally.

The Lace Guild was founded in 1976^[2] although lacemaking as a craft has been known in the United Kingdom for over four hundred years.

Origins

In 1973, Eunice Arnold organised a gathering of students for a 'Lace-in' at Elstow, Bedfordshire. Initially aimed at local students, the event became national.

The success of this event led to a second event in 1975. Doreen Wright had been working with Pat Bury, Ann Woodward and others on the formation of guild for lacemaking. They attended the second 'Lace-in' with a list of interested people and a steering committee was formed.

The 'Lace-in' was well attended and received national TV coverage. Interest increased and by October of that year letters were sent to interested lacemakers to join.

By 1985, The Lace Guild had grown to the size where it could support a permanent headquarters and paid staff. Since that time, The Guild has continued to develope with an increasing emphasis on the wider aspects of lace education including the care and interpretation of a growing collection and associated library.

Based at The Hollies, in Stourbridge, The Lace Guild is a registered charity.^[1] with an accredited museum also housed at The Hollies.

Today

From its start, The Guild has been the recipient of gifts and bequests of lace and related items. The best examples of lace or equipment now form the basis of the The Guild’s collections enabling new generations of lacemakers to visit, study or borrow items.

The library, housed at The Hollies, is considered to be ‘probably the most comprehensive lace library in the world’^[3] .

While still primarily a membership organisation, The Lace Guild’s roles as a centre for the collection and study of lace; both past and present, has become increasingly important and this was recognised in January 2001 when the Guild was awarded full museum registration. The collection is looked after by a small Museums Subcommittee of The Guild, supported by a team of voluntary curators. This support encompasses identification, preservation and display of lace along with regular demonstrations at The Hollies.

Charity Status

The Lace Guild is an education charity.^[1] open to all who have an interest in any aspect of lace and lacemaking.

Membership

Members receive a quarterly publication and have access to a range of services including use of the library (either in person of by post), independent assessment of their work and insurance for lace events.

The Future

To promote the continuing interest and practice of lacemaking worldwide, The Guild has published a range of patterns and books including instructional books and historical patterns. Several of the publications have been done in association with other museums.

The Lace Guild has continued to work for the benefit of lace and lacemakers. It was The Lace Guild that produced the framework for City and Guilds Lacemaking^[4] ; this, in addition to encouraging the continuation of traditional bobbin laces along with needle lace has encouraged lacemakers to continue this textile-art into the 21st Century.

References