Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft

Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft is located in Ditchling, East Sussex, England (50°55′19″N 0°6′59″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.

View of Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft

Edward Johnston's Way Out, Brompton Road, 1916

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 to 1836, when it was the first village national school. It began with one classroom and a schoolmaster's cottage. 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]