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Hill Potters' Guild
Located in the basement of Guild Hall, a short distance west of Hillcrest Mall, in Richmond Hill, Hill Potters' Guild is open to experienced potters. Our members meet monthly and enjoy many educational presentations and workshops. The Guild also offers handbuilding and wheel throwing classes in our fully equipped studio.The work of our Guild members is featured in our semi-annual juried show and sale. In addition, along with the fine work of other local artisans, our members' work is available for purchase in the Burr House Craft Gallery and Tea Room located next door to the Guild in the Burr House.
Guild Hall History
In December of 1857, the Evangelical Association of North America built this church of vertical plank construction. It served its congregation until 1882. At that time, a 99-year lease was given to John Leece, who converted the church into a residence, shortening the tall windows and putting in a second floor. John Prentice took over the lease in 1893. He, in turn, sold the property to Walter Bone in 1901. In 1978, the building was raised from its foundations at the corner of Carrville Road and Bathurst Street, and moved east to sit beside Burr House in Woods Park. After much hard labour by dedicated volunteers from the Richmond Hill Historical Society, Hill Potter's Guild and Burr House Spinners and Weavers, the building resumed its meeting house form, to serve as studios to the two craft guilds. It was officially opened as Guild Hall in the fall of 1982.
Burr House History
In 1820 Rowland Burr, a local carpenter and millwright, built the original four-room stuccoed Ontario cottage of plank-on-plank construction. He later added a blacksmith's shop. In 1836, the house was sold to Samuel Sanderson and then in 1844 to Thomas Boothby. Both Sanderson and Boothby ran blacksmith businesses on the property. In 1851, Boothby added three brick rooms, including a large kitchen with cooking fireplace and bake oven. In 1872, the Boothbys sold the house, which was passed through a number of owners until George Wood bought it and lived there from 1897 until the late 1960's. At that time, Cadillac Baif bought the land for a subdivision.In 1973 the newly formed Richmond Hill Historical Society urged the Town to acquire the Burr House. The Burr House was renovated by the Historical Society, and remains on the original site, at 528 Carrville Road, now known as Woods Park. For several years, they operated the house as a working craft house for the demonstration and teaching of handcrafts and pioneer household activities. The building also served as a local museum and later as a craft and gift shop.
During this time, Burr House became the home of the Richmond Hill Spinners and Weavers Guild (a group which evolved from students of Burr House Craft classes) and the Hill Potter's Guild.
In 1982, both Guilds moved to the Guild Hall where they operate today. In 1984, these two guilds formed a partnership with the Historical society and jointly took over the operation of the Burr House, converting it to the Burr House Craft Gallery and Tea Room.
In 1990, the Keefer Small House, a summer kitchen/woodshed was added on to the Burr House to provide a new entrance for it's current use as the Burr House Craft Gallery and Tea Room
The Gallery now presents fine arts and crafts by local artists and runs on volunteer labour from the two guilds.
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