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Bristol Guild of Applied Art

Logo: www.bristolguild.co.uk, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

Department store on Park Street, Bristol, England (1908–2024)

The Bristol Guild of Applied Art, more commonly referred to within Bristol as simply The Guild, was a privately held department store on Bristol's Park Street in the UK. Founded in 1908, the Guild was inspired by the philosophy of William Morris, and originally offered a place for artists and craftsmen to come together, learn from each other and sell their wares. It continued to showcase artists both local and foreign, while also operating as a more conventional small department store until its closure in 2024.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1908Founded1

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Park Street, Bristol (2024-06-12) 07
Photo: Simon Cobb, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons5

The Bristol Guild of Applied Art, more commonly referred to within Bristol as simply The Guild, was a privately held department store on Bristol's Park Street in the UK. Founded in 1908, the Guild was inspired by the philosophy of William Morris, and originally offered a place for artists and craftsmen to come together, learn from each other and sell their wares. It continued to showcase artists both local and foreign, while also operating as a more conventional small department store until its closure in 2024.2

The story

The Guild was founded in 1908 as a guild in the true sense, a co-operative for local craftsmen to organise, work, learn and sell their handiwork. It was built on the principles behind William Morris's Arts and Crafts Movement and lasted in that form until 1918, when the enterprise folded. It was bought out by three local businessmen and turned into a fully commercial venture, importing glass from Sweden and crystal and pottery from elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Park Street was home of the Guild throughout its existence, originally at 75 Park Street and from 1933 at 68 Park Street. Since the 1940s, the Guild has survived the Bristol Blitz bombings in World War II and a Provisional IRA attack in 1974.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bristol Guild of Applied Art, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • Arts and Crafts movement

Listed on Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. May 30, 2024Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1908Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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