Join us to celebrate the launch of the newly restored Stockwell House on Bruton High Street, and discover the town’s history with independent projects by Drawing Matter and ‘Bruton: A High Street Through Time.’

Bruton: A High Street Through Time—First Discoveries

• 10 am – 1 pm

• Free and open to all ages, including families

• Drop-in, no advance booking required

Drop into Stockwell House to share recollections and discover the history of Bruton High Street with writers and historians Emma Craigie and Philippa Lewis. An informal display will present early findings from their ongoing research project ‘Bruton: A High Street Through Time’. Visitors will be able to view photographs and artefacts from late 19th and early 20th Century Bruton, alongside stories of the Stockwell family, after whom the house takes its name.

We warmly welcome contributions from the local community. If you have memories of Bruton High Street, or if you live or have lived in one of its historic buildings, we would be delighted to hear your stories and learn more about the history of your home. The project will continue to develop into a publication, exhibitions and future events.

Creative Workshop with Drawing Matter

• 2 – 3.30 pm

• Free and suitable for adults (18 years and above)

• Limited capacity to advance booking is essential. Sign-up here

Drawing Matter will be based at Stockwell House to run a series of workshops for Bruton residents and visitors to the town. Using drawings from the Drawing Matter Collection, the workshops will explore different ways that drawing can be used to gather and record information about the built environment and how it is experienced.

Following the weekend of workshops, participants’ drawings will be exhibited at Stockwell House alongside the drawings from the Drawing Matter Collection.

Drop-In Event with Drawing Matter

• 3.30 – 5 pm

• Free and open to all ages, including families

• Drop-in, no advance booking required

Make a collective drawing of Bruton High Street. Each participant will draw a building on the high street which will be joined together to make a collective panoramic drawing.

About Stockwell House
Stockwell House is a shared space for creative exchange, collaboration and experimentation. Guided by Hauser & Wirth, it supports independent projects, research and exhibitions, fostering new ideas and connections within the wider community.

For more information please email stockwellhouse@hauserwirth.com or read our news story.

About Emma Craigie
Emma Craigie is a writer, teacher and broadcaster who runs creative writing groups in Somerset. She has written four books including ‘Chocolate Cake with Hitler’ (2010). Her forthcoming book ‘The Sound of the Sky’ (2027) will be published by New River.

About Philippa Lewis
Philippa Lewis is a writer, photographer, picture editor and researcher. She is the author of multiple books including: ‘A Dictionary of Ornament’ (1986) with Gillian Darley; ‘Details: A Guide to House Design in Britain,’ (2003); ‘Everyman’s Castle’ (2014); and ‘Stories from Architecture: Behind the Lines at Drawing Matter’ (2021).

About Drawing Matter
Drawing Matter explores the role of drawing in architectural thought and practice, through publications, exhibitions, and workshops for students and practitioners. Central to their activities is the Drawing Matter Collection, which consists of many thousands of architectural and design drawings from across the world, dating from the renaissance to the present day. Drawing Matter supports architectural education through workshops, seminars, publications and short courses including their annual Architecture Summer School.

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Photographs will be taken at these opening events for use on the Hauser & Wirth website, social media and in other marketing materials.