Patron. His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., K.T.

ABOUT THE GUILD

We are greatly honoured to have HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, K.G.. K.T. as our patron.

Our Guild was originally formed as an informal club. However, in 1993 we established the present Guild which is unique in Britain if not in the World.

Our members are all amateurs spread across the breadth of England. For this reason we have no Club premises but meet reguarly at exhibition sites. We do not sell our models although members may take private commissions should they wish.

Broadly, the aim of the Guild is to promote the precision scale modelling of horse-drawn vehicles and related items. All our models are constructed from scratch.

Generally we use prepared scale plans though some members produce their own by photographing and measuring a vehicle quietly rotting in a farm-yard or museum collection.

Most of us construct our models employing traditional methods used by Wheelwrights over the ages allowing us to study the craftsmanship of the wheelwright, in line with the designs and techniques used before the Industrial Revolution.

Some members paint their vehicles while others prefer to emphasise the wood, concentrating on the craftsmanship in construction.

Most of our models stand alone though some are mounted on a baseboard. Some members will go further producing a diaorama display with carved horses and figures depicting the vehicle in use with all its accessories strewn around it.

Whatever form our models take, they are our "raison d'étre" making absolute demands our imagination, skill and concentration. For these reasons membership of the Guild is highly rewarding.

EXHIBITIONS

Our members exhibit extensively throughout the year at many sites - National, County, Agricultural, Model Engineering and Heavy Horse Shows, Steam Rallies and specialist Wood exhibitions. A complete list of these ehibitions can be seen on this website's. "Future Events" list published in the "Guild News" section.

THE WEBSITE

Our website is aimed at providing our readers with detailed and accurate information about horse-drawn vehicles and the ages in which horses provided the main motive power.

It also aims to introduce readers to the methods we use to construct our vehicles, the tools we make to assist us and, though our extensive glossary, an explanation of the terms used by wheelwrights and carriage makers, some of which are otherwise unintelligible.

The web also lists the details of our many Associates including the Livery Companies in London, who publish detailed technical information relating to their former crafts and whose journeymen were involved in the construction of many types of vehicle.

We are in contact with Associations and Museums in this country, in Europe and the USA who have much to offer both in the display of the original vehicles and in providing detailed information regarding them.

And finally, we list a number of organisations and traders who deal in tools, books, magazines, specialist items and materials essential to our craft.

To assist our readers, website addresses are listed with each organisation. It only requires a "left click" on the selected web address, therefore, to gain instant access to the new site.

All this data is available both to the casual visitor and, more importantly, to serious students.

Whatever your involvement we sincerely hope that you will find our site informative and interesting. We would welcome feedback which can be sent to us through our "contact" address at the top rights hand corner of this page.

GUILD OF MODEL WHEELWRIGHTS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO AND CD.

We have published a promotional Video and CD so that Show Organisers can view our models to help them decide if they want to invite us to exhibit with them. Show Organisers should telephone our Secretary Brian Simpson on 01782 642571

OUR LIBRARY

Open only to members, we have a reference library of many books and plans which amount to a national collection. Members are issued with up-to-date lists and have access to the books and plans through our Librarian.

Non-members should contact the Guild web-secretary through our "contact" address. We will then respond to your enquiries about commercially available plans, magazines and books or, indeed any question associated with our subject.

Most of our members are willing to share their own research and plans which they, themselves have produced.

Our librarian can be contacted directly by E-mail on gmwlibrary@talktalk.net

OUR IN HOUSE MAGAZINE.

In our early days we were intent on exhibiting our work to the public in order to increase awareness of the old country crafts. Now we have as many associate members as full members, spread throughout the country, who are not modelmakers.

Our "in house" magazine - WHEEL WRITES - is important, there- fore, to inform and hold our Guild together.

It is published about three times a year and contains reports from our shows, guild news and specialist technical articles wich include hints and tips. Many of these articles are published in the "Magazine" and "Technical" sections of this site.            

The magazine is only available to members and its content depends upon the members who write for it. The Editors would be pleased to include letters from non-members, however.            

The front cover was drawn by Brian Kerley, one of our members 

OUR CONSTITUTION.

We have a constitution by which we all abide, and a present membership of about 100. The Guild holds only very limited access to copyright on commercial plans, but it does retain copyright for its own publications.

Maintaining the copyright for all entries and articles on this website, the Guild offers free downloading of its members' articles for personal use, but these articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Guild.