AT the September meeting, members and visitors were given an informative talk on the Bromsgrove Guild by Quentin Watt, co-author of a book by the same name, published in 1999.

Mr Watt told of the difficulties in finding information on the Guild despite its international reputation, although since the book's publication more information has come to light.

The Guild was started in 1896 by Walter Gilbert, art master at Bromsgrove School, who was asked to set up a private company to provide arts and crafts for sale.

Success was instant and craftsmen, mostly freelance, brought in to work on specific commissions, were working on architectural metalwork, wood carvings, stained glass, plasterwork, carpets, embroidery, silver work and church work.

In 1904, the Guild was commissioned to produce the gates for Buckingham Palace, which were completed in 1911.

The Guild's name, not usually put on its crafts, was shown along with intricate details of the design on excellent slides from Mr Watt's collection.

No information was ever found as to the artist and designer of this prestigious work of art.

More slides showing much of the Guild's work were shown during the evening, giving a further interesting dimension to the talk.

At its height, the Guild had a Canadian section in Montreal but the First World War was bad news and by 1918 the art and craft element had died down, leaving metalwork, in particular lead work, as its main production.

The depression of the 1930s sent it spiralling downwards even further and the Second World War brought even more austerity. Luxury items were not required and although the company remained in existence until 1966, it had become a dinosaur which finally died.

Work done by the Guild can be seen in many places in the world including America, Vienna, the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, Chequers, the Lusitania and Queen Mary cruise liners, the Fortune Theatre in Drury Lane, Thistle Chapel and Ardoss Castle in Scotland.

Closer to home is the lectern in Tardebigge Church, the interior and furnishings of Dodford Church, the memorial window in Hanbury Church and a small window in Clent Church.

The next meeting is tonight at Webheath Village hall at 7.45pm when the speaker will be Rosie Blackburn on antique maps and prints.

Visitors welcome.