Quilters' Guild Museum Collection

Quilters' Guild Museum Collection in York is the national collection of British patchwork, appliqué and quilting, kept in the historic St Anthony's Hall on Peasholme Green. It is a niche but fascinating stop for anyone interested in textiles, domestic history or traditional crafts.

What is the Quilters' Guild Museum Collection?

The collection belongs to the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles, a charity founded in 1979 to promote and preserve the history, heritage and techniques of patchwork, appliqué and quilting. The Guild is the national organisation for quilt makers, and it gives equal weight to traditional and contemporary work. Anyone who makes quilts or simply loves them can become a member.

The museum itself opened to the public in St Anthony's Hall in June 2008 and was described as the first museum in Britain devoted to the story of British quilt making and textile arts. It closed its doors as a permanent public museum at the end of October 2015. The Guild, however, continues to look after the holdings and to add new pieces to them.

What is in the collection?

The holdings run to hundreds of historic and contemporary quilts, and the figure keeps growing as acquisitions arrive. Reported totals differ depending on the source and the year, so it is best to think of it as a collection of several hundred items, with newer estimates passing the 900 mark.

Among the highlights is the Silk Patchwork Coverlet from 1718, the oldest dated piece of British patchwork known to survive. Beyond full-size bed quilts, the collection includes miniature quilts, quilted clothing, small domestic items, templates, tools and quilting equipment. Together they show how patchwork moved from household thrift and personal skill to a recognised art form.

Can you visit?

Since the museum closed, the collection is no longer open daily. It can be seen by appointment, and the Guild occasionally stages exhibitions in the hall, such as a free show of recent acquisitions held in March 2023. Check the Guild's website for current exhibitions and how to arrange a viewing before you travel.

The building: St Anthony's Hall

The setting is a sight in its own right. St Anthony's Hall was built in the mid-15th century, between 1446 and 1453, on the site of an earlier chapel dedicated to St Anthony. It is a Grade I listed building, the highest level of protection in England, and it is also home to the Guild's offices.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Quilters' Guild Museum Collection a museum you can walk into? Not as a regular daytime attraction. The public museum closed in 2015, and the collection is now viewed by appointment or during special exhibitions.

Where is it? At St Anthony's Hall, Peasholme Green, in the centre of York, a short walk from the medieval city walls.

What is the oldest item? The Silk Patchwork Coverlet of 1718, the oldest known dated British patchwork.

Who runs it? The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles, a registered charity founded in 1979.

Is it only for quilters? No. The collection is also of interest to anyone curious about textile history, social history, design and the daily life of past generations.