The making of a co-operative

In June 2005, a group of 7 artists and makers held a two-week exhibition in the exhibition room at The Old Silk Mill in Chipping Campden. The landlord invited the group to set up a permanent co-operative of local artists and craftspeople and use the exhibition room as a gallery to sell and promote their work. Our first recruit was renowned local artist, David W. Birch, and the co-operative’s first exhibition was a one man show by David. It opened on 9th July, 2005.

From that first exhibition the co-operative has grown tremendously. Of the seven original exhibitors, five became founding members of the co-operative which opened with a lucky 13 members in August 2005. We can now accommodate 28 members and are proud of the quality of work and diversity of media that we offer: glass, ceramics, hand painted silk and handmade textiles, painting, photography, sculpture, stone carving, cabinet making and woodturning.

We have shared laughter and tears, loves and losses, births, marriages and deaths but throughout it all we have been there for one another: stronger as a group than we would be individually and we thank each and every one of you who has supported us over the years.

2025 marks our 20th birthday – watch this space!

Early history

The first documented mention of this Grade II* listed silk mill comes from a 1780 trade directory ““the recently erected mill in Campden which gives employment to great numbers of the poor in the town”. Throughout its life, the mill was a “throwing mill” involved in the spinning of silk thread and not silk weaving or the production of silk cloth.

For more information, please see Chipping Campden History Society’s page.

C. R. Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft

The mill had a new lease of life in 1902 when the Guild of Handicraft re-located to Campden from London, and became the centre of a creative burst of activity under the guidance of C R Ashbee. The Arts and Crafts movement focused on handmade objects, reacting against the rapidly growing dominance of machinery which resulted in the loss of craft skills. Hart’s silversmiths continue to work in their original workshop from the time of the Guild, still involving members of the family.

Hart gold and silversmsiths, the Guild of Handicraft

Our neighbours on the first floor of The Old Silk Mill are Hart gold and silversmiths, the last operating remnant of the Guild of Handicraft, which C.R. Ashbee established in 1888. George Hart was a silversmith with the Guild when it moved from London’s East End to the Cotswold town of Chipping Campden in 1902. From 1912 he took over running the workshop, joined in 1930 by his son Henry. This high tradition is now continued by his grandson David Hart, along with Derek Elliott, William Hart and Julian Hart.

Arts and crafts

The arts and crafts are alive and thriving in Chipping Campden with galleries, historic buildings and independent makers and retailers to explore. For those interested in the history of the arts and crafts movement in the north Cotswolds, Court Barn has a permanent display celebrating nine lives or workshops that were established in the north Cotswolds including Gordon Russell and F. L. Griggs.

Download our map

Court Barn is only a short walk from The Old Silk Mill, down Chipping Campden’s historic high street which is home to a number of independent shops.

If you plan to have lunch or dinner at one of the town’s pubs, hotels or restaurants, we recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment.

On street parking is free and there are pay and display car parks in the town square and at Chipping Campden School (weekends and school holidays only) which is close to Court Barn.