Latest News

14 February 2025

Half Term: 17 - 21 February: Guildhouse closed

We hope you have a great break!


The Guildhouse will be closed for the half term break. Classes re-start on Monday 24 February- see you then!

12 February 2025

New course starting 27 February!

New course starting 27 February!


Following the success of the first 6-week course on this topic, another course starts on Thursday 27 February. It will cost £72 for six 2-hour sessions (£29 if you are in receipt of means tested benefits). We have had fabulous feedback from previous students - one said, "Beth has a gentle way of imparting the facts and encouraging others through her passion and enthusiasm." Another student explained, "I’m enjoying the Eat Well, Live Well course. I’m finding it very interesting, informative and fun. It certainly makes you look and think about what you eat!" Click the picture to find out more about this course and all our health-based courses.

4 February 2025

It's our Centenary Year!

Celebrate with us!


The Guildhouse centenary takes place on 29th September 2025 but there is a year-long programme of events planned starting later this week with a French cultural evening. We are especially excited to share this news because we have just successfully navigated a very difficult period in our Charity's history. After being forced to draw on our financial reserves to survive and facing closure at the end of last year, now the Guildhouse has the financial cushion for 2025 which will allow it to act urgently to restore its fortunes thanks to the generous support of its loyal and enthusiastic student base and success in securing long-term loans from external sources. Now the drive is on to make sure that everyone in Rugby knows about us! Rob Close, Chairman of the Guildhouse Trustees, said: “There is nothing else like us in Warwickshire. The trustees, staff and volunteers are working flat out to ensure we are fit for another 100 years, remaining the adult education jewel in Rugby’s crown." Look out for information coming soon on all our Centenary events - we would love you to celebrate with us!

31 January 2025

Looking to hire a room for your club or group?

Look no further! We have a range of rooms to book at reasonable prices – check out all the details on our room hire page. One of our long-standing room hire customers has shared their feedback below.

22 January 2025

PGH Newsletter online!

Spring Newsletter


It's cold and wet outside but there's a warm and welcoming atmosphere at the Guildhouse - click the image to catch up with everything that's happening at PGH this spring!

17 January 2025

Did you know you can buy PGH Gift Vouchers?

Share the joy of a PGH course with a loved one this Spring


Buy a gift voucher of any value to give a friend or family member the chance to experience a PGH course or workshop. Just ask in the office and we will sort it out for you.

6 January 2025

Come and enrol - Spring Term has started!

There's still time to enrol on a course


Our courses and workshops are detailed in the brochure - just browse the brochure then contact us to enrol! You can reach us on 01788 542467, weekdays, 9am - 4pm. In addition you can click our interactive course categories on the courses page for more information on each course.

21 November 2024

Christmas Fair raises over £1,700!

Thank you so much for your generosity


We raised the amazing sum of £1721.44 on the day - you can see the success of our individual stalls in the picture. And with after sales money still coming in, we hope that the funds generated for the Guildhouse from this event will increase to at least £1,800. There are a selection of gifts still available to buy in our foyer so why not come and help us towards our target? Enormous thanks to all our volunteers on the day and to everyone who donated goods to be sold.

22 October 2024

Continuing our Networking Opportunities

PGH is continuing its membership of the Chamber of Commerce!


We believe this is a valuable addition to our current networking and advertising avenues. We can network with other Chamber of Commerce members and, importantly, can promote our programme of courses on the Chamber of Commerce portal which should help us to attract an even wider audience. Increased student numbers will be key to the survival of the Percival Guildhouse long term so we will be making the most of this new way of promoting our courses.

11 October 2024

Try our donation button!

We've teamed up with the Charities Aid Foundation


Thank you to everyone who is already donating the the Percival Guildhouse online using CAF Donate, the Charities Aid Foundation donation platform. You just click, donate and your donation comes to us! You'll find a clickable button on our donations page, and right here as well. Every donation goes towards ensuring the survival of the Guildhouse and we are very grateful for your generosity.

4 October 2024

We've received donations because you shopped online

Thank you for supporting us!


We've just received £19.19 from easyfundraising because you have supported The Percival Guildhouse when you shop online. As you know, it doesn't cost you any extra but, because you support us, the retailers you shop with donate money to The Percival Guildhouse. If you are not already donating as you shop, why not check out our donations page for easy instructions on how to start.

28 June 2024

Plant Sale Sucess!

Thank you for supporting us


We raised over £600 from the sale of plants and our hamper competition. Thanks so much to everyone who donated plants and prizes to the event! In fact, our supporters kept bringing in more plants so that we were able to keep selling well beyond the date the sale was expected to finish - thank you. We are very grateful to everyone who participated in the competition and purchased plants because we couldn't do it without you!

12 June 2024

Anne Lewis Jones 1934 - 2024

Sheila Winterton, PGH Centre Manager 2000 – 2007, remembers Anne Lewis Jones (pictured below)

 It is with sadness that we report the passing of one of our Vice Presidents, Anne Lewis Jones. Anne was a staunch supporter of the Guildhouse for many years. She raised her family in Rugby and, in later years, moved to Cornwall to be near to her daughter.

Long standing connection with PGH

One of Anne’s first contacts with the Guildhouse was in the 1950s when she joined a History of Art group attending field trips to places of cultural interest. She became friendly with Neil Aspinall, later Chairman of the Guildhouse, and his wife, Betty. Very soon Anne became an active Executive Committee member and the Social Club Secretary ensuring that the bar was staffed and running efficiently. She represented the Guildhouse at meetings of the Educational Centres Association, a national body promoting lifelong learning.

Honoured with the position of Vice President

Anne was a tutor of history courses including periods ranging from the Normans to 19th century English history. She was also an avid embroiderer and ran workshops to encourage others to get involved with the subject. She was a major contributor to the publication, ‘The Story of the Percival Guildhouse 1925-1988’, and wrote chapters on our Silver and Golden Jubilees and was honoured with the position of Vice President in recognition of her time and energy spent in supporting adult education.

Great affection for PGH

I was fortunate to have visited Anne during the summer of 2023 at her home in Cornwall when, at the age of 88, she remembered the Guildhouse with great affection:

The Guildhouse really saved me.’

I was interested in everything it had to offer.’

It was made to measure’.

 

10 May 2024

Trustees Needed!

12 September 2023

Rugby's Mayor creates Heritage History

The Mayor of Rugby, Councillor Maggie O’Rourke, created her own piece of history for The Percival Guildhouse when she called in to the adult education centre on Heritage Open Day.

The Guildhouse has welcomed some illustrious guests into its 19th century home during the course of its 98-year existence. However, this often overlooked gem in Rugby’s history, was delighted to be recognised by the Mayor as she toured various venues in the town during the Day.

PGH has a long history

The only independent adult education centre in Rugby, the Guildhouse was created as a tribute to the memory of Dr John Percival, a pioneer in adult education, who had been headmaster at Rugby School from 1887 to 1895.  The Old Rugbeians Society had raised the funds and when Bloxam House came up for sale in 1921 they bought it.  It had been the home of antiquarian and archaeologist, Matthew Holbeche Bloxam, whose father had been an assistant master at Rugby School. The Guildhouse was formally opened on 29 September 1925 and has been providing arts and crafts classes to generations of adults ever since.

Honoured to welcome the Mayor

Sarah Gall, Centre Manager, who took the Mayor on a tour of the building, said: “We were honoured and delighted to welcome the Mayor to our St Matthew’s Street home. She took great interest in our past but was also excited to hear about all of the wide range of courses and dayschools we offer to students from Rugby and the surrounding districts today.”

And the Mayor commented: “Heritage Open Day shone a light for me on all the treasures we have in Rugby, places such as the Guildhouse which have a fascinating past but also remain a very active and vibrant part of Rugby’s story today.”

The Guildhouse is a charity and is entirely self-supporting.

Image shows: The Mayor of Rugby, Councillor Maggie O’Rourke, Sheila Winterton, Vice President of the Percival Guildhouse, and Sarah Gall, Centre Manager.
 

24 August 2021

A quick reminder on how to access your PGH account online: video guides

Do you want to check if you have got a place on your course? Why not access your PGH student account and see all your records online? If you would like more information on how it works, you may find these six short video guides helpful. Click the full screen icon to see the videos in a larger size.

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