TRUSTEES for an arts and craft centre in the village of Stanton are hoping to create a book about its history within the community.

There are plans for a project to record anecdotes and the history of Stanton Guildhouse and its links with nearby villages.

The Guildhouse was first established by Mary Osborn in the 1970s and she encouraged local people to take up traditional handicrafts.

Today, the centre offers weekly classes in art, pottery and woodturning as well as furniture restoration.

However, trustees fear the history and links with the villages have been lost over the years.

The project, which would require input from local residents, was put forward at a meeting of trustees, where chairman Andrew Mawson outlined a vision for the future of the centre.

Other plans under discussion are updating the original building and workshops and the possibility of a ‘warden’s lodge’.

However, all the projects require funding and the meeting heard local auctioneer, Nicholas Grainger, would host an auction of donated items at British Bespoke Auctions in Winchcombe in April with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Guildhouse.

One day workshops have been planned for the year including a Calligraphy day on February 21, a talk on Permaculture and a spinning day, both on March 23, along with a flower-designing workshop on April 6.

A week long woodcarving workshop and a summer drawing and painting day is also in the pipeline.

The trustees evening, on Saturday, January 28, was rounded off with music played by violinist Michael Bochmann, who performs at the Guildhouse regularly.

Anyone who can help with the history project is asked to contact the Guildhouse.